Abstract
BackgroundPoint-of-care testing (POCT) is defined as testing done near or at the site of patient care with the goal of providing rapid information and improving patient outcomes. Point-of-care testing has many advantages and some limitations which affect its use and implementation.ObjectiveThe aim of the audit was to determine the current practices, staff attitudes and training provided to hospital clinical staff.MethodsThe audit was conducted with the use of a questionnaire containing 30 questions. One hundred and sixty questionnaires were delivered to 55 sites at Tygerberg Academic Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, from 21 June 2016 to 15 July 2016. A total of 68 questionnaires were completed and returned (42.5% response rate).ResultsMost participants were nursing staff (62/68, 91%), and the rest were medical doctors (6/68, 9%). Most participants (66/68, 97%) performed glucose testing, 16/68 (24%) performed blood gas testing and 17/68 (25%) performed urine dipstick testing. Many participants (35/68, 51%) reported having had some formal training in one or more of the tests and 25/68 (37%) reported having never had any formal training in the respective tests. Many participants (46/68, 68%) reported that they never had formal assessment of competency in performing the respective tests.ConclusionParticipants indicated a lack of adequate training in POCT and, thus, limited knowledge of quality control measures. This audit gives an indication of the current state of the POCT programme at a tertiary hospital and highlights areas where intervention is needed to improve patient care and management.
Highlights
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is defined as testing done at or near the site of patient care, with the aim of providing rapid information and improving patient outcomes.[1]
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia has a framework for POCT in the laboratory and at POCT sites that can be adapted for use at independent sites offering POCT.[5]
More than half of the participants (38/68, 56%) viewed POCT as being an important part of patient management (Table 2). Most respondents to this audit of the use of POCT by clinical staff at a South African tertiary hospital found that POCT was a vital part of patient care; this is important, as it is likely to ensure that the staff is open to learning and keeping up to date with new information and practices
Summary
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is defined as testing done at or near the site of patient care, with the aim of providing rapid information and improving patient outcomes.[1] The goal of POCT is to provide timely information regarding the patient’s condition, and to adjust management and improve the quality of care whilst avoiding medical errors.[2]. The ideal POCT programme must meet several requirements; these include organisation, supervision, written procedures, operator training and competency testing, instrument evaluation, proficiency testing, quality control, and appropriate result recording and notification.[1] The main guidelines used to design and implement POCT programmes are the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22870:2016 and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines such as POCT4,3,4 which provide comprehensive guidance on POCT practice. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is defined as testing done near or at the site of patient care with the goal of providing rapid information and improving patient outcomes. Point-of-care testing has many advantages and some limitations which affect its use and implementation
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