title: Operations research study to implement HIV and syphilis point-of-care tests and assess client perceptions in a marginalised area of Lima, Peru.
abstract: In Peru, a significant proportion of people tested for HIV and syphilis do not receive timely results. Our objective was to assess the institutional feasibility of implementing simultaneous HIV/syphilis point-of-care tests and client perceptions regarding these point-of-care tests. Point-of-care tests were implemented in a hospital consultation room in a marginalised zone of Lima. A time-series design was used to compare the proportion of tested clients who received timely results, with and without the point-of-care test intervention. Experience and satisfaction with point-of-care tests was evaluated with 149 people. In the 6 months without intervention, 69% and 61% of clients tested for HIV and syphilis, respectively, received their results within the required 45-minute window. During the 2-month point-of-care test intervention, all clients tested for HIV (n = 387) and syphilis (n = 398) received their results within 45 minutes. All clients surveyed were completely satisfied (52%) or satisfied (48%) with the simultaneous HIV/syphilis point-of-care test screening process. Additionally, 73% strongly agreed with the statement 'I feel satisfied with the rapid testing process.' Screening using point-of-care tests represents an important opportunity to reduce the time, resource and cost burden for users and institutions and increase the proportion of users receiving their test results in a timely manner.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate School, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru School of Medicine, Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Peru elaineflores22@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Hospital Carlos Lanfranco La Hoz, Peru.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lluque
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiappe
authors.affiliation: Dirección Regional de Salud Pasco, Peru.
authors.forename: Rosabel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lino
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bayer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009874:Operations Research; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D010568:Peru; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Peru; Treponema pallidum; client satisfaction; implementation feasibility; point-of-care tests; rapid test; sexually transmitted infections; syphilis