Table 2 Perceived limitations and barriers of POCT use in GP practices
Category and subcategory | Example |
|---|---|
Economic aspects ( n = 155) | |
High costs (n = 105) | “Costs for devices and test stripes” |
Inadequate or lack of reimbursement (n = 50) | “Reimbursement does not cover the costs or lack of reimbursement” |
Test-related aspects ( n = 92) | |
Inferior diagnostic accuracy (n = 56) | “Poor sensitivity/specificity” |
Limited shelf life (n = 17) | “[Limited] shelf life, due to infrequent test use” |
Difficult handling (n = 8) | “Insecurity of medical staff in performing the test” |
Required maintenance of devices (n = 6) | “Frequent maintenance procedures of the devices” |
Other (n = 5) | “Sampling material (pre analytical steps)” |
Integrability into practice routine ( n = 81) | |
Time expenses (n = 33) | “Time disadvantages, e.g. time to result; [POCTs] often not feasible in crowded GP practice” |
Personnel expenses (n = 14) | “Substantial personnel expenses” |
Organizational consequences (n = 14) | “Integrability into daily practice routines” |
Purchase of POCT devices (n = 11) | “Various suppliers, confusing” |
Space requirement, incl. storage space (n = 5) | “Laboratory [space] required”; “Storage of test equipment” |
Other (n = 4) | “Bureaucratic burden” |
Clinical aspects ( n = 18) | |
Limited clinical value (n = 11) | “Not all tests are useful in rural GP practice”; “Often, they [POCTs] do not help me in my decision” |
Low frequency of test occasion (n = 7) | “Infrequent use”; “Low utilization rate of devices” |
Other ( n = 6) | |
“Clinical experiences of GPs very heterogeneous”; “Fear of regress claims” | |