Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61, 00469580241284168. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580241284168 Dr. Joshua B. Rager et al.
Points
- The study surveyed U.S. adults aged 50-80 about their use, perceptions, and future intentions regarding at-home medical tests, finding that nearly half (48.1%) had purchased such a test.
- COVID-19 tests were the most common (32%), followed by DNA or genetic tests (16.6%), cancer screening tests (5.6%), and other infection tests (4.4%).
- Black, non-Hispanic adults were significantly less likely than White, non-Hispanic adults to use at-home tests, and those with higher education or income were more likely to purchase these tests.
- Participants generally had positive perceptions of at-home medical tests and expressed interest in using them in the future.
- The study suggests clinicians should be familiar with at-home tests and be ready to guide patients in understanding their benefits, limitations, and results.
Summary
This study explored the use, perceptions, and future intentions regarding at-home medical tests among older adults in the United States. A cross-sectional, nationally representative survey was conducted among non-institutionalized adults aged 50 to 80. Nearly half of the participants (48.1%, 95% CI: 45.2%-51.0%) reported purchasing an at-home medical test, the most common being COVID-19 tests (32.0%, 95% CI: 29.3%-34.8%). Other types of tests included DNA or genetic tests (16.6%, 95% CI: 14.7%-18.7%), cancer screening tests (5.6%, 95% CI: 4.5%-7.0%), and infection tests excluding COVID-19 (4.4%, 95% CI: 3.4%-5.6%).
The study found demographic differences in the use of at-home tests. Black, non-Hispanic adults were significantly less likely than White, non-Hispanic adults to have purchased an at-home test (35.5% vs. 49.6%, P < .01). Additionally, adults with a college degree and those with an annual household income above $100,000 were more likely to have purchased these tests compared to those without a college degree or with lower incomes (55.5% vs. 42.0%, P < .01; 60.6% vs. 39.0%, P < .001, respectively). Overall, participants reported positive perceptions of at-home medical tests and expressed interest in their future use.
The findings indicate that at-home medical testing is now common among older adults, with a substantial portion of the population self-testing for various health conditions. Given the increasing availability of such tests, clinicians should familiarize themselves with the different types of at-home tests on the market and be prepared to discuss their benefits and limitations with patients. This study underscores the importance of healthcare providers supporting patients in effectively understanding and interpreting the results of at-home medical tests.
Link to the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00469580241284168
References Rager, J. B., Kirch, M., Singer, D. C., Solway, E., Malani, P. N., Roberts, J. S., & Kullgren, J. T. (2024). Use of at-home medical tests among older us adults: A nationally representative survey. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61, 00469580241284168. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580241284168
