Introducing new point-of-care tests for common infections in publicly funded clinics in South Africa: a qualitative study with primary care clinicians.

ABSTRACT: Broad-spectrum antibiotics are routinely prescribed empirically in the resource-poor settings for suspected acute common infections, which drive antimicrobial resistance. Point-of-care testing (POCT) might increase the appropriateness of decisions about whether and which antibiotic to prescribe, but implementation will be most effective if clinician's perspectives are taken into account. OBJECTIVES:To explore the perceptions of South African primary care clinicians working in publicly funded clinics about: making antibiotic prescribing decisions for two common infection syndromes (acute cough, urinary tract infection); their experiences of existing POCTs; their perceptions of the barriers and opportunities for introducing (hypothetical) new POCTs. DESIGN, METHOD, PARTICIPANTS, SETTING:Qual

SUBMITTER: van Hecke O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6887073 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature