Table 3 Summary of how primary care clinicians’ attitudes towards blood POCTs may act as facilitators and barriers to their adoption in primary care

Impact of POCTs on decision-making, diagnosis and treatment

Increased diagnostic certainty

Concerns about accuracy

More effective targeting of treatment (e.g. antibiotics)

Might not be helpful or alter consultations

Possible misleading results

Impact of POCTs on clinical practice more broadly

Fewer re-consultations / phone calls for the same or future episodes of illness

Over-reliance, undermining of clinical expertise

Enhanced confidence and job satisfaction

Cost, equipment maintenance, time

Avoidance of missing or delayed results, and loss of patients to follow-up

Usefulness limited to certain situations and patients

Impact of POCTs on patient-clinician relationship and perceived patient experience

Enhanced communication through discussing immediate results

Possible patient dislike of testing

Increased patient education and self-management of chronic conditions

Patient anxiety resulting from intermediate results

Shared decisions with patients (e.g. antibiotic prescription)

Greater reassurance and satisfaction for patients

Patient confidence in clinicians’ decisions