{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T14:56:45Z","timestamp":1790607405497,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786406400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786406400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Public Health Challenges"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The UK private healthcare self\u2010testing market has grown quickly, especially since the COVID\u201019 pandemic. Self\u2010tests offer convenience and autonomy, but concerns persist about their accuracy, regulation, oversight and follow\u2010up care. Media coverage shapes public views, but systematic analysis is lacking. Our aims were to examine UK media coverage of private self\u2010testing kits, identifying key themes, reported benefits and risks and overall media attitudes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A search of online media articles published between 2019 and 2023 was conducted using Google. Eligible articles discussed privately purchased self\u2010testing kits, were in English, and were free to access. Articles were grouped by health area, and thematic analysis found key patterns.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Fifty\u2010nine articles met inclusion criteria. Themes that were described as positive included autonomy, accessibility and use alongside the National Health Service (NHS). Negative themes included concerns about accuracy, the use of inappropriate biomarkers, insufficient regulation, lack of follow\u2010up, the risk of misinterpretation, psychological distress and an increased burden on the NHS. Media reports noted a lack of standardisation compared with NHS pathways.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>UK media coverage was predominantly critical of self\u2010tests, although benefits such as accessibility and autonomy were recognised. Media representations are influenced by journalistic framing, selective sourcing and broader tendencies toward risk\u2010focused reporting. Future research should explore how this influences public behaviour, engagement with self\u2010testing technologies and subsequent healthcare utilisation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/puh2.70342","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]],"date-time":"2026-08-11T16:10:31Z","timestamp":1786464631000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Online Market for Healthcare Self\u2010Testing Kits: Benefits, Risks and Media Representation in the United Kingdom"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-2167-5709","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jasmine","family":"Lee","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Lancaster University  Bailrigg UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9284-6630","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sebastian S.","family":"Fuller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nuffield Department of Medicine University of Oxford  Oxford UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suneeta","family":"Soni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University Hospital Sussex Royal Sussex County Hospital  Brighton UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1432-8109","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emma","family":"Harding\u2010Esch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine  London UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_17_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj\u20102025\u2010085547"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_3_1","unstructured":"Royal College of General Practitioners College Calls for Greater Transparency Around Self\u2010Testing Kits(Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Website 2023) https:\/\/www.rcgp.org.uk\/news\/self\u2010testing\u2010kits\u2010statement."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_4_1","article-title":"Health DIY Tests Often Inaccurate, Study Says","author":"Karpel H.","year":"2025","journal-title":"BBC News"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_5_1","article-title":"How Unofficial Screening Tests Are Impacting GPs","author":"Wilkinson E.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pulse Today"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_6_1","unstructured":"SELFCHECK Medical Pros and Cons of Self\u2010Testing Health Screening Kits(SELFCHECK Medical 2023) https:\/\/selfcheckmedical.com\/blogs\/news\/pros\u2010and\u2010cons\u2010of\u2010self\u2010testing\u2010health\u2010screening\u2010kits."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans\u20102021\u2010055318"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans\u20102016\u2010052841"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_9_1","volume-title":"The Rise of Home HIV Testing and Its Future Market Role","author":"Barrie R.","year":"2023"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_10_1","article-title":"Helpful or Harmful? Experts Warn of Potential Dangers of Post\u2010Covid Health Testing Boom","author":"Stearn E.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Daily Mail"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_11_1","unstructured":"E.Wilkinson \u201cScreening by the Back Door. PulseToday \u201dPulseTodayMay 5 2023 https:\/\/www.pulsetoday.co.uk\/analysis\/screening\/screening\u2010by\u2010the\u2010back\u2010door\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_12_1","unstructured":"British Association for Sexual Health and HIV BASHH Position Statement on the Inappropriate Use of Multiplex Testing Platforms and Suboptimal Antibiotic Treatment Regimens for Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections(British Association for Sexual Health and HIV 2021) https:\/\/www.bashh.org\/resources\/72\/bashh_position_statement_on_the_inappropriate_use_of_multiplex_testing_platforms_and_suboptimal_antibiotic_treatment_regimens_for_bacterial_sexually_transmitted_infections\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.o2518"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2024.61940"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_16_1","article-title":"At\u2010Home Kits Now on Sale at Tesco Will Let You Test Yourself for CANCER","author":"McDonald H.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mail Online"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_17_1","article-title":"These Kits Bring a Feeling of Being in Charge of Your Health by Knowing Your FSH Levels and Seeking Medical Help to Combat any of Them Successfully","author":"Grierson J.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Guardian"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_18_1","article-title":"Non\u2010Compliant Online STI Tests Put Patients at Risk, Experts Warn","author":"Gregory A.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Guardian"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_19_1","unstructured":"Mitch Mansfield \u201cSTIs: \u2018Very Few\u2019 Online Tests Meet Official Standards \u201dBBC NewsApril 14 2022 https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/newsbeat\u201061098158."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_20_1","unstructured":"M.Roberts \u201cShop\u2010Bought Menopause Tests Not Worth It Women Advised \u201dBBC NewsJune 10 2022 https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/health\u201061340988."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_21_1","unstructured":"S.Huskisson \u201cPrivate Health Firms Offer \u2018Misleading\u2019 Blood Tests That Can Give Patients \u2018Abnormal Results\u2019 Probe Finds \u201dDaily MailOctober 27 2022 https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article\u201011358969\/Private\u2010health\u2010firms\u2010offer\u2010misleading\u2010blood\u2010tests\u2010patients\u2010abnormal\u2010results.html."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_22_1","article-title":"Fertility Test Kits: Affordable and Easy but There Are Downsides","author":"Marsh S.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Guardian"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_23_1","article-title":"How to Test for HIV Using an at\u2010Home Test Kit","author":"Dresden D.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Medical News Today"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_24_1","article-title":"Finger\u2010Prick Hormone Tests Used by Women Going Through IVF and Menopause May be Unreliable, Experts Warn","author":"Leatham X.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Daily Mail"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_25_1","unstructured":"A.Studman \u201cThe Problem With DIY Health Test Kits \u201dWHICH?September 4 2020 https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/news\/article\/the\u2010problem\u2010with\u2010diy\u2010health\u2010test\u2010kits\u2010aDhtk8e19xwl."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_26_1","unstructured":"B.Mesko The Rise of at\u2010Home Lab Tests(Medical Futurist 2022) https:\/\/medicalfuturist.com\/the\u2010rise\u2010of\u2010at\u2010home\u2010lab\u2010tests\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_27_1","unstructured":"BMJ Group Concern Over Unregulated High Street Health Checks That May be Putting Extra Pressure on the NHS(BMJ Group 2022) https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news\u2010releases\/969065."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_28_1","unstructured":"Gov.uk. Govuk CE Marking(Gov.uk. Govuk 2012) https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/ce\u2010marking."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.p1898"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_30_1","unstructured":"NICE How We Develop NICE Guidelines(National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/what\u2010nice\u2010does\/our\u2010guidance\/about\u2010nice\u2010guidelines\/how\u2010we\u2010develop\u2010nice\u2010guidelines."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_31_1","unstructured":"Royal College of Obstetricians and Gycaecologists RCOG Recommends Against Using Over\u2010the\u2010Counter Menopause Tests(Royal College of Obstetricians and Gycaecologists 2022) https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/news\/rcog\u2010recommends\u2010against\u2010using\u2010over\u2010the\u2010counter\u2010menopause\u2010tests\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_32_1","unstructured":"British Association for Sexual Health and HIV BASHH.Org STI Testing Through Private Providers(British Association for Sexual Health and HIV 2024) https:\/\/www.bashh.org\/_userfiles\/pages\/files\/private_pil_mobilepdf_03.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_17_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1908369116"},{"key":"e_1_2_17_34_1","unstructured":"UK Health Security Agency COVID\u201019: General Public Testing Behaviours(UK Health Security Agency 2023) https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/lfd\u2010tests\u2010how\u2010and\u2010why\u2010they\u2010were\u2010used\u2010during\u2010the\u2010pandemic\/covid\u201019\u2010general\u2010public\u2010testing\u2010behaviours."}],"container-title":["Public Health Challenges"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/puh2.70342","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/puh2.70342","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/puh2.70342","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T14:08:52Z","timestamp":1790604532000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/puh2.70342"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/puh2.70342"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/puh2.70342","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2769-2450","2769-2450"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2769-2450","type":"print"},{"value":"2769-2450","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,11]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2026-02-13","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-07-28","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-08-11","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70342"}}