PLOS Global Public Health · 4 authors, 4 centres
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A clinical needs assessment involving surveys and interviews with malaria experts and healthcare workers was conducted to inform the design of a new aptamer-based sensor for antimalarial drugs. The assessment found that a point-of-care format was not currently feasible in Southeast Asia, leading to a redesign as a lab-based research tool to empower local researchers.
This case study describes the development of a new aptamer-based sensor for detecting antimalarial drugs, initiated after a clinical needs assessment. The assessment involved an online survey (18 responses from 30 contacted) and in-person interviews with malaria control experts, researchers, and healthcare workers, primarily in Southeast Asia. The central finding was that participants, particularly in settings with a single mandated first-line therapy, expressed less interest in a point-of-care test for treatment decisions and more interest in an affordable lab-based assay for research on drug use and resistance patterns. This feedback directly informed a shift in the assay format from point-of-care to lab-based. The study acknowledges limitations, including potential desirability, question order, and selection bias, and notes that the conclusions are geographically specific. The implication is that clinical needs assessments are crucial for aligning new diagnostic tools with real-world clinical and research needs before full development.
