New research finds people want to take their health into their own hands.
Article created for the NPA’s: Your Health Your Pharmacy initiative.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has a lot to answer for when it comes to the way our lives have changed since 2020, there have been some positive outcomes too. When the UK was introduced to the concept of self-testing for the virus using lateral flow tests, the notion of using diagnostic kits at home felt alien; but as time went on it became a normal part of daily life for many. A trend that looks set to continue, according to new research carried out by global supplier of high-quality innovative healthcare products, 2San.
2San surveyed 1,000 representative UK consumers to discover their thoughts on using medical-grade self-diagnostic tests at home, and the findings show that healthcare at home could very well be the future.
The Pandemic Effect
COVID normalised the concept of self-diagnostics for many of us; in fact, 86% of respondents in 2San’s survey reported that they had used COVID-19 lateral flow self-tests during the pandemic and 49% revealed that they are more worried about the status of their health than before the pandemic. Home-testing has become a normal practice in everyday life and something people may be happy to continue.
Given this growing appetite for and interest in self-diagnostics, 2San is pleased to announce in the first quarter of 2023, it has secured pharmacy and retail listings which will allow them to deliver eight new ‘over the counter’ rapid self-diagnostic kits nationwide, putting health data for simple concerns directly into consumers’ hands. Following results, pharmacists will then regularly act as part of the triage access to GPs and primary care and through these rapid diagnostics it should also help to democratise and alleviate pressure on the UK’s healthcare system.
Trust Quality
Accuracy of home-testing is paramount, and 2San’s research found that 87% of participants were reassured about the status of their health after using a self-test – most users were happy not only to trust the quality of the product, but also trusted in their own abilities to use the equipment to get an accurate result.
The survey found that 82% of consumers are happy to use self-diagnostics to assess elements of their health & wellness, such as Vitamin D or Iron levels, with 83% open to use self-diagnostic kits for infections, such as UTI’s.
Healthcare Help
With the pressure on our health services at the moment, it’s no wonder people are looking for other ways to get fast, accurate diagnoses. This study found that 79% of consumers indicated interest in using self-diagnostics for other health issues, and when they were asked what appealed most about testing at home, 29% ranked ‘speed’ at the top; followed by ability to take control of one’s own health (24%); and reducing use of NHS services (21%).
Feeling Empowered
One of the major benefits of self-diagnostic testing is the ability to have control over our own wellbeing. With almost half of us worrying more about our health post-pandemic, 82.5% of 2San’s group welcomed the idea of being able to effectively manage aspects of their own health and wellness from home using self-tests before needing to approach the doctor. In fact, 670 participants expressed concern that the NHS could not provide the required healthcare in a timely manner, should they need it.
With this being said, the future and innovation of self-diagnostics services could act as a support to alleviate the pressures surrounding healthcare services, decreasing waiting times and enabling patients to receive accessible care with over-the-counter treatments from pharmacies if necessary.
Positive Results
The majority of people surveyed had a positive experience and 2San is seeking to make this possible by making self-diagnostic testing accessible, affordable and easy to understand.
Source: https://www.yourhealthyourpharmacy.co.uk/health-at-home/