Point-of-care testing in UAE community pharmacies: adoption, operational practices, and quality challenges.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
- 2Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
- 3College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- 4Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
- 5Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Marsa, Malta.
- 6Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 7Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- 8Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- 9Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Community pharmacy-based point-of-care testing can expand access to health screening and chronic disease monitoring, yet evidence on its routine implementation and quality in the United Arab Emirates remains limited. This study assessed service adoption, operational practices, and perceived quality challenges to identify priorities for safe integration into primary care. A cross-sectional survey of 501 licensed community pharmacists was conducted using convenience sampling, primarily through in-person visits to community pharmacies, supplemented by electronic dissemination through online platforms and professional networks. The questionnaire examined testing uptake, service types, workflow, data management, training, and implementation challenges. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with providing testing. Overall, 46.5% of respondents provided at least one point-of-care testing service, and 30.5% of these providers reported always performing testing activities. Male pharmacists had higher odds of providing testing than female pharmacists (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.16). Compared with pharmacists with 1-5 years of experience, those with 6-12 months, 6-10 years, and more than 10 years had lower odds of providing testing. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin testing were the most common services. Only 41.2% of providers integrated results into electronic patient records; 30.9% had received no formal training, and 59.6% of trained providers described their instruction as minimal. The most frequently reported quality problems were insufficient patient information (90.6%), improper sample collection (90.1%), and equipment malfunction (89.7%). By linking service uptake with workflow and quality risks, this study provides baseline evidence that point-of-care testing is established in many community pharmacies but lacks consistent supporting infrastructure. Standardized competency programs, operating procedures, and interoperable records are needed to improve reliability, support safe expansion, and strengthen the contribution of community pharmacies to accessible primary care.
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BibTeX
@article{jarab2026pointofcare,
title = {{Point-of-care testing in UAE community pharmacies: adoption, operational practices, and quality challenges.}},
author = {Anan S Jarab and Walid Al-Qerem and Ahmad Z Al Meslamani and Rahma Elsherif and Hamza Jarab and Omar Jrab and Nada A Alsaleh and Salahdein Aburuz and Yazid N Al Hamarneh and Judith Eberhardt},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmed.2026.1970393},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952954},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Point-of-care testing in UAE community pharmacies: adoption, operational practices, and quality challenges.
AU - Anan S Jarab
AU - Walid Al-Qerem
AU - Ahmad Z Al Meslamani
AU - Rahma Elsherif
AU - Hamza Jarab
AU - Omar Jrab
AU - Nada A Alsaleh
AU - Salahdein Aburuz
AU - Yazid N Al Hamarneh
AU - Judith Eberhardt
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in medicine
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2026.1970393
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952954
AB - Community pharmacy-based point-of-care testing can expand access to health screening and chronic disease monitoring, yet evidence on its routine implementation and quality in the United Arab Emirates remains limited. This study assessed service adoption, operational practices, and perceived quality challenges to identify priorities for safe integration into primary care. A cross-sectional survey of 501 licensed community pharmacists was conducted using convenience sampling, primarily through in-person visits to community pharmacies, supplemented by electronic dissemination through online platforms and professional networks. The questionnaire examined testing uptake, service types, workflow, data management, training, and implementation challenges. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with providing testing. Overall, 46.5% of respondents provided at least one point-of-care testing service, and 30.5% of these providers reported always performing testing activities. Male pharmacists had higher odds of providing testing than female pharmacists (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.16). Compared with pharmacists with 1-5 years of experience, those with 6-12 months, 6-10 years, and more than 10 years had lower odds of providing testing. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin testing were the most common services. Only 41.2% of providers integrated results into electronic patient records; 30.9% had received no formal training, and 59.6% of trained providers described their instruction as minimal. The most frequently reported quality problems were insufficient patient information (90.6%), improper sample collection (90.1%), and equipment malfunction (89.7%). By linking service uptake with workflow and quality risks, this study provides baseline evidence that point-of-care testing is established in many community pharmacies but lacks consistent supporting infrastructure. Standardized competency programs, operating procedures, and interoperable records are needed to improve reliability, support safe expansion, and strengthen the contribution of community pharmacies to accessible primary care.
SN - 2296-858X
ER -