Findings from the analysis of views expressed by participants in a Public Health Authority funded study, show participants are confident and comfortable at taking finger lancet blood samples at home.
The primary aim of the RADAR study was to investigate if blood-based measures of flares taken at home correspond well to conventional hospital means. However the study also investigated if patients are comfortable with this approach and if posting samples was feasible. RADAR study participants were asked in a study exit questionnaire what they thought of DBS and home sampling (see above illustration).
91% of respondents expressed confidence in taking DBS samples at home, 94% thought the pain from finger lancet was tolerable and 90% were comfortable with weekly sampling. Of the 30 participants who provided weekly samples, 92% felt that weekly sampling was not too frequent and that automated phone text reminders were a useful way to manage regular samples. However, participants did express some frustration with needing to write dates on the samples and some of the DBS kit were tricky to use.
Rates of home sample return to a central analytical lab and adherence to requested sample dates were also recorded. Data indicates that 89.1% of samples were returned to the analysis lab with 1 week and that 88.6% of samples were taken on the requested date. Considered together the data provide strong support for the feasibility of a remote sampling approach to monitor long-term conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer.
