Patients' experience of self-testing measuring total white cell count and C reactive protein during treatment at home with antibiotics: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' experiences and preferences of self-testing using white cell count point-of-care test (POCT) and C reactive protein POCT during antibiotic treatment at home.

SETTING: A University Hospital in the Region of Zealand (DK).

PARTICIPANTS: 10 inpatients treated with antibiotics who were discharged from hospital to continue antibiotic treatment at home. They were trained in the hospital supervised by research personnel before self-testing at home.

DESIGN: An explorative qualitative study using thematic analysis.

RESULTS: The participants considered the self-testing beneficial, mainly due to not having to travel to get a blood test drawn, the rapid test time and the ability to closely monitor their treatment. The participants perceived that self-testing at home would make them feel more in control of their disease and would give them the ability to live a more normal life. Moreover, self-testing at home showed to be feasible for some patients but with barriers to overcome, such as the ability to use technology and cognitive challenges.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that self-testing at home was feasible for some patients, provided they received thorough training at the hospital ensuring that participants were able to conduct the self-testing and use the smartphone technology before transitioning to their home. This could help reduce barriers to home self-testing by highlighting its benefits and emphasising the need for adequate patient guidance and support.