Improving behaviour in self-testing (IBIS): Study on frequency of use, consequences, information needs and use, and quality of currently available consumer information (protocol)

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-tests are available to consumers for more than 25 conditions, ranging from infectious diseases to cardiovascular risk factors. Self-tests are defined as in-vitro tests on body materials such as blood, urine, faeces, or saliva that are initiated by consumers to diagnose a particular disorder or risk factor without involving a medical professional. In 2006, 16% of a sample of Dutch Internet users had ever used at least one self-test and 17% intended to use a self-test in the future. The objectives of this study are to determine (1) the frequency of self-test use, (2) the consumers' reasons for using or not using a self-test, (3) the information that is used by self-testers in the different self-test stages and the consumers' interpretation of the quality of this information, (4) the consumers' response to self-test results in terms of their confidence in the result, reassurance by the test result, and follow-up behaviour, (5) the information consumers report to need in the decision making process of using or not using a self-test, and in further management on the basis of the self-test result, and (6) the quality of the currently available consumer information on a selected set of self-tests.MethodsMixed methods study with (1) a cross-sectional study consisting of a two-phase Internet-questionnaire, (2) semi-structured interviews with self-testers and consumers who intend to use a self-test, and (3) the assessment of the quality of consumer information of self-tests. The Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour will serve as the theoretical basis for the questionnaires and the interview topic guides.ConclusionsThe self-testing area is still in a state of flux and therefore it is expected that self-test use will increase in the future. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which combines quantitative and qualitative research to identify consumers' information needs and use concerning self-testing, and the consumers' actual follow-up behaviour based on the self-test result, and simultaneously investigates the quality of the currently available consumer information. The results of this study will be used as an input in developing consumer information on self-testing.

Motivation and experiences of self‐testers regarding tests for cardiovascular risk factors

“…A general impression of users’ ideas on self‐testing was obtained by starting each interview with the open question how the respondent had experienced performing the self‐test. The complete topic guide for the interviews is described in our protocol article 16 …”

Socio-demographic, health-related, and individual correlates of diagnostic self-testing by lay people: Results from a representative survey in Germany

“…For example, in the Netherlands prevention campaigns were conducted (e.g. by the Kidney Association or the Municipal Health), which recommended the use of self-tests to diagnose kidney diseases and chlamydia, and sent those self-tests free of charge to interested laypeople [ 19 ]. Possibly this is the reason why more participants of the current study had not heard of self-tests before (47.7%), compared to the Dutch participants (36.6%).…”

Das Angebot von medizinisch-diagnostischen Selbsttests auf deutschsprachigen Internetseiten: Ergebnisse einer systematischen Recherche

“…So wurden etwa in den Niederlanden gezielte Präventionskampagnen durchgeführt (z. B. von der Kidney Association oder Municipal Health), die eine Nutzung von Selbsttests zur Diagnostik von Nierenerkrankungen oder Chlamydien empfahlen und diese den Interessenten kostenlos zugesendet haben [17]. Möglicherweise ist das Vertrauen gegenüber Selbsttests in der deutschen Bevölkerung nicht vorhanden, was eine geringere Inanspruchnahme erklären könnte.…”