Patients' experience of self-testing measuring total white cell count and C reactive protein during treatment at home...

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.

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

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.

An explorative qualitative study using thematic analysis.

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.

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.