Diagnostic self-tests: a value proposition for healthcare system’s users?[Autotests de diagnostic : une proposition de valeur pour les usagers du système de santé ?]

At a time when patient empowerment is being talked about as a major trend, diagnostic self-tests might seem like a good option for both the population and healthcare institutions seeking to influence health policies. Such tests enable individuals to assess their own medical condition in an autonomous way, and they could also help control healthcare budgets by providing earlier diagnoses. In France, the market for self-tests has recently expanded with a battery of new tests available for a variety of health conditions. However, these tests are still at an early stage of adoption and have stirred controversy in the medical community with regard to the usability of the information delivered to patients. The present study's objective is to explore whether the general population between 30 and 50 years of age is ready to adopt these self-tests. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted to investigate the thinking of 22 participants living in or around Paris with regard to medical self-testing in general and the latest types of self-tests in particular. The study's findings highlight the participants' low awareness of self-tests and their double-edged attitude toward them. The results suggest there is a discrepancy between patients' stated willingness to emancipate themselves from medical professionals and their level of dependency when it comes to receiving a diagnosis. This finding emphasizes a strong need for guidance by the medical community, as the users do not trust their own skills to analyze self-tests' results and they are satisfied with traditional laboratory testing.