Patient perceptions of primary care rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing: a qualitative study
Patient perceptions of primary care rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing: a qualitative study
Objectives: rapid microbiological point-of-care tests (RM-POCTs) have the potential to reduce antimicrobial overuse for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). However, patient perspectives regarding RM-POCTs remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore patients’ and parents’ experiences using RM-POCTs for RTIs and their views on how RM-POCTs influence treatment decisions, symptom management and future consulting.
Design: a qualitative study using in-depth, semistructured interviews. Data were analysed thematically, informed by a realist approach.
Setting: interviewees were recruited from a multicentre, individually randomised controlled efficacy trial evaluating the use of a multiplex RM-POCT for suspected RTIs in primary care.
Participants: purposive sample of primary care patients (n=21 adults, 9 parents) participating in the trial.
Results: in general, participants viewed RM-POCTs favourably. Patients believed RM-POCTs reduced diagnostic uncertainty but emphasised that RM-POCTs should be used alongside clinical judgement. For some, additional information from RM-POCTs created positive outcome expectancies and reduced the perception that antibiotics were necessary. Others felt invalidated by RM-POCTs’ results or believed further support was necessary to understand when antibiotics were needed and how they could manage symptoms. While RM-POCTs may reduce reconsulting for the same illness, participants indicated future consulting behaviours would persist for self-limiting symptoms or health anxiety. Increased consulting may occur if patients perceive RM-POCTs to reduce pressure on primary care.
Conclusion: RM-POCT offers the potential to improve self-efficacy beliefs and reduce reconsulting for the same illness. Effective clinician communication and patient education may be beneficial alongside RM-POCTs to minimise unintended outcomes and enhance patients’ ability to determine when primary care attendance is necessary in the future.
Antibiotics, Diagnostic microbiology, Primary Care, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Clarke, Rebecca
1cd81684-907a-4bef-8a1c-2566c2d07100
Brown, Emily
50befb23-eb32-446b-a5f9-2425c4cb5273
Hay, Alastair D.
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Mitchell, Paul
bfea7dec-d8f1-40de-8703-d933d6f83799
Ridd, Matthew J.
2f15120c-d5fa-4f5d-bb86-21356e034df7
Zhu, Liang
59081265-f24c-44d7-903f-10246e4c7882
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
25 June 2025
Clarke, Rebecca
1cd81684-907a-4bef-8a1c-2566c2d07100
Brown, Emily
50befb23-eb32-446b-a5f9-2425c4cb5273
Hay, Alastair D.
bfae9e44-ae9b-473c-923f-1dea50747023
Mitchell, Paul
bfea7dec-d8f1-40de-8703-d933d6f83799
Ridd, Matthew J.
2f15120c-d5fa-4f5d-bb86-21356e034df7
Zhu, Liang
59081265-f24c-44d7-903f-10246e4c7882
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Clarke, Rebecca, Brown, Emily, Hay, Alastair D., Mitchell, Paul, Ridd, Matthew J., Zhu, Liang and Yardley, Lucy
(2025)
Patient perceptions of primary care rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing: a qualitative study.
BMJ Open, 15 (e099666), [e099666].
(doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099666).
Abstract
Objectives: rapid microbiological point-of-care tests (RM-POCTs) have the potential to reduce antimicrobial overuse for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). However, patient perspectives regarding RM-POCTs remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore patients’ and parents’ experiences using RM-POCTs for RTIs and their views on how RM-POCTs influence treatment decisions, symptom management and future consulting.
Design: a qualitative study using in-depth, semistructured interviews. Data were analysed thematically, informed by a realist approach.
Setting: interviewees were recruited from a multicentre, individually randomised controlled efficacy trial evaluating the use of a multiplex RM-POCT for suspected RTIs in primary care.
Participants: purposive sample of primary care patients (n=21 adults, 9 parents) participating in the trial.
Results: in general, participants viewed RM-POCTs favourably. Patients believed RM-POCTs reduced diagnostic uncertainty but emphasised that RM-POCTs should be used alongside clinical judgement. For some, additional information from RM-POCTs created positive outcome expectancies and reduced the perception that antibiotics were necessary. Others felt invalidated by RM-POCTs’ results or believed further support was necessary to understand when antibiotics were needed and how they could manage symptoms. While RM-POCTs may reduce reconsulting for the same illness, participants indicated future consulting behaviours would persist for self-limiting symptoms or health anxiety. Increased consulting may occur if patients perceive RM-POCTs to reduce pressure on primary care.
Conclusion: RM-POCT offers the potential to improve self-efficacy beliefs and reduce reconsulting for the same illness. Effective clinician communication and patient education may be beneficial alongside RM-POCTs to minimise unintended outcomes and enhance patients’ ability to determine when primary care attendance is necessary in the future.
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e099666.full
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 May 2025
Published date: 25 June 2025
Keywords:
Antibiotics, Diagnostic microbiology, Primary Care, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 504173
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/504173
ISSN: 2044-6055
PURE UUID: 30cc8e52-e835-4410-8778-48b00b20defe
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Date deposited: 28 Aug 2025 16:42
Last modified: 29 Aug 2025 01:37
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Contributors
Author:
Rebecca Clarke
Author:
Emily Brown
Author:
Alastair D. Hay
Author:
Paul Mitchell
Author:
Matthew J. Ridd
Author:
Liang Zhu
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