Point-of-care testing in UAE community pharmacies: adoption, operational practices, and quality challenges

Community pharmacy-based point-of-care testing can expand access to health screening and chronic disease monitoring, yet evidence on its routine implementation and quality in the United Arab Emirates remains limited. This study assessed service adoption, operational practices, and perceived quality challenges to identify priorities for safe integration into primary care.

A cross-sectional survey of 501 licensed community pharmacists was conducted using convenience sampling, primarily through in-person visits to community pharmacies, supplemented by electronic dissemination through online platforms and professional networks. The questionnaire examined testing uptake, service types, workflow, data management, training, and implementation challenges. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with providing testing.

Overall, 46.5% of respondents provided at least one point-of-care testing service, and 30.5% of these providers reported always performing testing activities. Male pharmacists had higher odds of providing testing than female pharmacists (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.16). Compared with pharmacists with 1-5 years of experience, those with 6-12 months, 6-10 years, and more than 10 years had lower odds of providing testing. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin testing were the most common services. Only 41.2% of providers integrated results into electronic patient records; 30.9% had received no formal training, and 59.6% of trained providers described their instruction as minimal. The most frequently reported quality problems were insufficient patient information (90.6%), improper sample collection (90.1%), and equipment malfunction (89.7%).

By linking service uptake with workflow and quality risks, this study provides baseline evidence that point-of-care testing is established in many community pharmacies but lacks consistent supporting infrastructure. Standardized competency programs, operating procedures, and interoperable records are needed to improve reliability, support safe expansion, and strengthen the contribution of community pharmacies to accessible primary care.