Point-of-care testing preferences 2020–2022: Trends over the years

Background

The use of point-of-care (POC) tests prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively infrequent outside of the health care context. Little is known about how public opinions regarding POC tests have changed during the pandemic.

Methods

We redeployed a validated survey to uncompensated volunteers to assess preferences for point-of-care testing (POCT) benefits and concerns between June and September 2022. We received a total of 292 completed surveys. Linear regression analysis was used to compare differences in survey average response scores (ARSs) from 2020 to 2022.

Results

Respondent ARSs indicated agreement for all 16 POCT benefits in 2022. Of 14 POCT concerns, there were only 2 statements that respondents agreed with most frequently, which were that “Insurance might not cover the costs of the POC test” (ARS 0.9, ± 1.0) and “POC tests might not provide a definitive result” (ARS 0.1, ± 1.0). Additionally, when comparing survey responses from 2020 to 2022, we observed 8 significant trends for POCT harms and benefits.

Conclusion

The public’s opinion on POC tests has become more favorable over time. However, concerns regarding the affordability and reliability of POCT results persist. We suggest that stakeholders address these concerns by developing accurate POC tests that continue to improve care and facilitate access to health care for all.