Professional identities and new technologies of hepatitis C point-of-care testing

New hepatitis C virus (HCV) point-of-care testing technologies need models of care which involve new tasks to be performed by the health workforce (e.g., pathologists, community health workers, and peer workers). This change in tasks may challenge existing core patterns of work and professional identities. This study explores the interactions between professional identity and new technologies of HCV point-of-care testing.

Between September 2023 and January 2024, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with people involved in HCV policymaking in Australia. The sample consisted of 29 participants working in seven Australian jurisdictions or nationally: 13 from departments of health, six from community-led organisations, five from local health districts, and five from pathology services. Data were coded according to themes identified in a prior conceptual review of professional identity. Analysis explored the bidirectional relationship between professional identities and the implementation of point-of-care testing.

Three themes were identified which explain the role of professional identity in influencing implementation of HCV point-of-care testing. Everyday interpersonal interactions influenced perceptions of risk. Maintaining high quality in point-of-care testing is valued across professions but the interpretation of quality is varied. Workers who deliver services directly to people at risk of HCV emphasise agility as a characteristic of their group identity which also distinguishes them from other professions.

Professional identities are shaping the rollout of HCV point-of-care testing. The prioritisation of risk, agility, and quality in professional identities shape the possibilities for HCV point-of-care testing. The analysis demonstrates the inextricability of new technology from the people who deliver it.