Acceptability and Willingness of UAE Residents to Use OTC Vending Machines to Deliver Self-Testing Kits for COVID-19 and the Implications

Jairoun, Ammar Abdulrahman; Al‐Hemyari, Sabaa Saleh; Abdulla, Naseem Mohammed; Shahwan, Moyad; Bilal, Farah Hashim Jaber; AL-Tamimi, Saleh Karamah; Jairoun, Maimona; Zyoud, Samer H.; Kurdi, Amanj; Godman, Brian

doi:10.2147/jmdh.s370441

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Self-tests have been used to increase case detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Greece, the USA and India 13–15. Studies have reported acceptability of self-testing as a complementary case detection approach among university students and staff in the United Kingdom16 and the United Arab Emirates,17 and among the general public in Greece and Cyprus 18…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

People’s willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2023

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ObjectivesNigeria has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the poor testing coverage in the country may make controlling the spread of COVID-19 challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the general public’s acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing as an approach which could help to address this gap.SettingA household-based survey was conducted in five urban and five rural local government areas in the states of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Kaduna and Lagos, in mid-2021.Participants2126 respondents (969 were female) participated. A five-pronged, probabilistic sampling approach was used to recruit individuals older than 17 years and available to participate when randomly approached in their households by the surveyors. A 35-item questionnaire was used to collect data on their values towards SARS-CoV-2 self-testing. Primary outcomes were: likelihood to use a self-test; willingness to pay for a self-test; and likely actions following a reactive self-test result.ResultsOf the total 2126 respondents, 14 (0.66%) were aware of COVID-19 self-testing, 1738 (81.80%) agreed with the idea of people being able to self-test for COVID-19, 1786 (84.05%) were likely/very likely to use self-tests if available, 1931 (90.87%) would report a positive result and 1875 (88.28%) would isolate if they self-tested positive. Factors significantly associated with the use of a self-test were having a college education or higher (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.55; 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.33), full-time employment (AOR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.63), feeling at moderate/high risk of COVID-19 (AOR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.70 to 3.47) and presence of individuals at risk of COVID-19 within the household (AOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.78).ConclusionA majority of Nigerians agree with the concept of COVID-19 self-testing and would act to protect public health on self-testing positive. Self-test implementation research is necessary to frame how acceptability impacts uptake of preventive behaviours following a positive and a negative self-test result.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

People’s willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2023

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“…94% of participants preferred throat swab-based self-test and 90% preferred saliva-based self-tests [ 55 ]. In another study, 95.4% participants preferred over-the-counter vending machines to obtain self-test kits [ 69 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-tests for COVID-19: What is the evidence? A living systematic review and meta-analysis (2020–2023)

Anand,

Vialard,

Esmail

et al. 2024

PLOS Glob Public Health

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COVID-19 self-testing strategy (COVIDST) can rapidly identify symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals and their contacts, potentially reducing transmission. In this living systematic review, we evaluated the evidence for real-world COVIDST performance. Two independent reviewers searched six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, World Health Organization database, Cochrane COVID-19 registry, Europe PMC) for the period April 1st, 2020, to January 18th, 2023. Data on studies evaluating COVIDST against laboratory-based conventional testing and reported on diagnostic accuracy, feasibility, acceptability, impact, and qualitative outcomes were abstracted. Bivariate random effects meta-analyses of COVIDST accuracy were performed (n = 14). Subgroup analyses (by sampling site, symptomatic/asymptomatic infection, supervised/unsupervised strategy, with/without digital supports) were conducted. Data from 70 included studies, conducted across 25 countries with a median sample size of 817 (range: 28–784,707) were pooled. Specificity and DOR was high overall, irrespective of subgroups (98.37–99.71%). Highest sensitivities were reported for: a) symptomatic individuals (73.91%, 95%CI: 68.41–78.75%; n = 9), b) mid-turbinate nasal samples (77.79%, 95%CI: 56.03–90.59%; n = 14), c) supervised strategy (86.67%, 95%CI: 59.64–96.62%; n = 13), and d) use of digital interventions (70.15%, 95%CI: 50.18–84.63%; n = 14). Lower sensitivity was attributed to absence of symptoms, errors in test conduct and absence of supervision or a digital support. We found no difference in COVIDST sensitivity between delta and omicron pre-dominant period. Digital supports increased confidence in COVIDST reporting and interpretation (n = 16). Overall acceptability was 91.0–98.7% (n = 2) with lower acceptability reported for daily self-testing (39.5–51.1%). Overall feasibility was 69.0–100.0% (n = 5) with lower feasibility (35.9–64.6%) for serial self-testing. COVIDST decreased closures in school, workplace, and social events (n = 4). COVIDST is an effective rapid screening strategy for home-, workplace- or school-based screening, for symptomatic persons, and for preventing transmission during outbreaks. These data will guide COVIDST policy. Our review demonstrates that COVIDST has paved the way for self-testing in pandemics worldwide.

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“…Additionally, there are reports that PPIs are often obtained or procured from OTC vending machines and non-pharmacy stores without appropriate medical prescribing advice. These apprehensions are possible to minimize with the low doses of PPIs available in OTC and OTC vending machines helping with testing and social distancing during pandemics [ 27 , 151 ]. Heath authorities must keep track of pharmacy shops to stop selling PPIs without a prescription, including self-medications.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potential lifestyle modifications include raising the head of the bed, physical exercise including post-dinner walks, reducing smoking and alcohol intake, weight loss in obese patients, avoidance of significant food intake at least two hours before bedtime, especially in patients with nocturnal symptoms, having smaller meals more frequently as opposed to large meals, particularly in the evening, as well as introducing protein-rich meals and a vegetarian diet [8,18,20,23,24]. However, a concern is that lifestyle changes can be overlooked with the increased availability of low-cost treatments, notably in community pharmacies, drug stores, OTC vending machines, and supermarkets, coupled with variable knowledge of GERD among community pharmacists [25][26][27][28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Considerations From a Health Authority Perspective When Proton Pump Inhibitors Are Used to Treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Their Implications

Meyer¹,

MacBride-Stewart²,

Fadare³

et al. 2022

Cureus

Self Cite

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The growing prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) needs to be carefully managed to relieve the symptoms and prevent complications. Complications of GERD can include erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are typically first-line treatment for GERD alongside lifestyle changes in view of their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. However, there are concerns with adherence to dosing regimens and recommended lifestyle changes reducing their effectiveness. There are also concerns about potential complications from chronic high-dose PPIs. These include an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular events and infections. Recommendations to physicians include prescribing or dispensing the lowest dose of PPI for the shortest time, with ongoing patient monitoring. Activities among community pharmacists and others have resulted in increased dispensing of PPIs without a prescription, which can be a challenge. PPIs are among the most prescribed and dispensed medicines in view of their effectiveness in managing GERD. However, there are concerns with the doses prescribed and dispensed as well as adherence to lifestyle advice. These issues and challenges need to be addressed by health authorities to maximize the role and value of PPIs.

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Acceptability and Willingness of UAE Residents to Use OTC Vending Machines to Deliver Self-Testing Kits for COVID-19 and the Implications

Cited by 6 publications

References 52 publications

People’s willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

People’s willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

Self-tests for COVID-19: What is the evidence? A living systematic review and meta-analysis (2020–2023)

Key Considerations From a Health Authority Perspective When Proton Pump Inhibitors Are Used to Treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Their Implications

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