Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40537405›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of primary health care2025

Diagnostic equipment and point-of-care tests in Norwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics: a cross-sectional study.

Bent Håkan Lindberg, Jesper Blinkenberg, Tone Morken, Merete Allertsen, Ingrid Keilegavlen Rebnord

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Bent Håkan LindbergNational Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, Norce, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0003-0964-1878
Jesper BlinkenbergNational Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, Norce, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-1713-4350
Tone MorkenNational Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, Norce, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-8174-935X
Merete AllertsenNational Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, Norce, Bergen, Norway.
Ingrid Keilegavlen RebnordSection for General Practice, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID 0000-0002-1975-7404

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn recent years, the increasing availability of instruments and laboratory tests has significantly influenced the diagnostic work in primary healthcare. This study aimed to map the availability of diagnostic equipment and point-of-care tests (POCTs) in Norwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics and examine the demographic and organisational factors influencing their availability.

methodsThis cross-sectional study utilised the National Out-of-Hours Services Registry (NOOHR) survey across all Norwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics in early 2024. Clinic managers provided data on diagnostic equipment and POCTs. Clinics were categorised by population size, hospital proximity, co-location with general practitioner (GP) offices, and total equipment available.

resultsAll 167 Norwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics responded. The median number of diagnostic equipment and POCTs was 17 (Interquartile range (IQR) 16-20). Clinics with the most equipment were often smaller, co-located with a GP office, and over 40 km from a hospital. Almost all clinics had a repertoire of CRP, urinary dipstick, haemoglobin, glucose, strep A test, SARS-CoV-2 rapid test, urinary HCG test, pulse oximeter, and ECG. Clinics far from hospitals more frequently had tests like D-dimer and troponin. Of the clinics with troponin tests, 69% had a low-sensitive POCT.

conclusionNorwegian emergency primary healthcare clinics are well equipped, especially if co-located with a GP office or far from a hospital. Further research is needed to enlighten how availability influences use and the possible impact on patient trajectories. Clinic leaders should pave the way for sustainable practices and high-value care when deciding their diagnostic equipment and POCTs repertoire.

Indexed as

Ambulatory Care FacilitiesDiagnostic EquipmentEmergency Medical ServicesPoint-of-Care SystemsPoint-of-Care TestingPrimary Health CareAfter-Hours CareCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesHealth Services AccessibilityHumansNorwaydiagnostic equipmentemergency primary healthcaregatekeepinghealthcare organizationhealthcare sustainabilitylow-value careout-of-hours servicesPoint-of-care tests

Identifiers

PMID40537405
PMCPMC12632221

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.