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Abejew AA, Wubetu GY, Fenta TG. Assessment of challenges and opportunities in antibiotic stewardship program implementation in Northwest Ethiopia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32663. [PMID: 38912506 PMCID: PMC11193037 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance (AMR) and results in mortality, morbidity, and financial burden. Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) with education can resolve a number of barriers recognized in the implementation of successful ASPs. The aim of this study was to assess health professionals' perceptions and status of ASPs in hospitals in 2022. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1, 2022 to October 30, 2022. A total of 181 health professionals were included, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The status of hospitals was assessed using a checklist. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, and descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests (X2) at a P-value of <0.05 were used. Results Of the 181 respondents, 163 (90.1 %), and 161 (89.0 %) believed that AMR is a significant problem in Ethiopia and globally, respectively. Easy access to antibiotics 155 (85.6 %), and inappropriate use 137 (75.7 %) were perceived as key contributors to AMR. Antibiotics were believed to be prescribed/dispensed without laboratory results 86 (47.5 %), and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were not considered to guide empiric therapy 81 (44.8 %). ASP was believed to reduce the duration of hospital stays and associated costs 137 (75.7 %), and improve the quality of patient care 133 (73.5 %), whereas 151 (83.4 %), 143 (79 %), and 142 (78.5 %) suggested education, institutional guidelines, and prospective audits with feedback interventions to combat AMR in their hospitals, respectively. There were significant differences in perception among professionals based on professional category and attempts by hospitals to implement ASPs. Although ASPs were not functioning according to standard, there have been attempts to implement it in three hospitals. The issue of ASP had never been heard in general hospitals. Currently, it is feasible to implement ASPs in four hospitals. Conclusion The status of ASP in hospitals was very poor. Despite a lack of prior knowledge on ASPs, most respondents do have a positive perception of AMR and the implementation of ASPs. Pharmacist-led prospective audits and feedback with education and institutional guidelines for empiric antibiotic use can be better implemented in hospitals. Involvement of representatives from infection prevention and control, and collaboration among hospitals in ASP implementation will help establish a strong ASP in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asrat Agalu Abejew
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Teferi Gedif Fenta
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Vonken L, Schneider F, Lejeune B, Noordink A, Kremers S, de Bruijn GJ. Perceptions of antibiotic resistance among hospital healthcare professionals in high-income countries: A systematic review of causes, consequences, and solutions. Prev Med 2024; 182:107953. [PMID: 38614411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major threat to public health. Hospital healthcare professionals are important stakeholders in curbing ABR. To be able to encourage healthcare professionals to act against ABR, information on their perceptions is needed. Yet, summary evidence on how healthcare professionals perceive ABR causes, consequences, and solutions is outdated. This review aims to elucidate these perceptions. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for literature published until July 6th, 2022, and used Web of Science and Scopus to identify reports citing included studies. Reports of quantitative original research from high-income countries were included if they investigated hospital healthcare professionals' perceptions about ABR. Descriptive data and data on perceptions about causes, consequences, and solutions regarding ABR were extracted. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022359249. RESULTS The database search and citation tracking yielded 13,551 and 694 papers respectively. Forty-eight reports from 46 studies were included in the review. These studies were performed between 1999 and 2023 and included between 8 and 1362 participants. Healthcare professionals perceived ABR as a problem that is more severe nationally than locally and they primarily recognize ABR as a distant and abstract problem. Studies mostly concurred on prescribing behavior as a cause and a solution for ABR, while external causes and solutions (e.g., in agriculture) elicited less agreement. CONCLUSIONS Studies with a primary focus on the perceptions of healthcare professionals about ABR are limited. Healthcare professionals perceive prescribing behavior as a major cause of ABR and a focus area for ABR solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieve Vonken
- Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute CAPHRI, Maastricht University, P. Debyelaan 1, 6229 HA Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Francine Schneider
- Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute CAPHRI, Maastricht University, P. Debyelaan 1, 6229 HA Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Barbara Lejeune
- Library and Archives Department, University of Antwerp; Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Annika Noordink
- Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute CAPHRI, Maastricht University, P. Debyelaan 1, 6229 HA Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Stef Kremers
- Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute CAPHRI, Maastricht University, P. Debyelaan 1, 6229 HA Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Gert-Jan de Bruijn
- Department of Communication Studies, University of Antwerp; Sint-Jacobsstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
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Mittal N, Goel P, Goel K, Sharma R, Nath B, Singh S, Thangaraju P, Mittal R, Kahkasha K, Mithra P, Sahu R, Priyadarshini RP, Sharma N, Pala S, Rohilla SK, Kaushal J, Sah S, Rustagi S, Sah R, Barboza JJ. Awareness Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior among Physicians: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in India. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1496. [PMID: 37887197 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12101496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Understanding the physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and antimicrobial prescribing behavior is a crucial step towards designing strategies for the optimal use of these agents. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among clinicians across India between May and July 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire in English comprising 35 questions pertaining to demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices domains. (3) Results: A total of 544 responses were received from 710 physicians contacted. Sixty percent of participants were males, with mean age of 34.7 years. Mean ± Standard Deviation scores for knowledge, attitude, and practices domains were 8 ± 1.6, 20.2 ± 3.5, and 15.3 ± 2.1, respectively. Higher scores were associated with basic [odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval), p value: 2.95 (1.21, 7.2), 0.02], medical and allied sciences [2.71 (1.09, 6.67), 0.03], and central zone [3.75 (1.39, 10.12), 0.009]. A substantial proportion of dissatisfactory responses were found regarding hospital antibiograms, antibiotics effective against anaerobes, WHO AWaRe (access, watch, and reserve) classification of antibiotics, and the role of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). (4) Conclusions: There is a need to sensitize and educate clinicians on various issues related to antimicrobial use, such as antibiograms, double anaerobic cover, IPC practices, and guideline-based recommendations, to curb the AMR pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Mittal
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, India
| | - Parul Goel
- Department of Biochemistry, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Chhainsa, Faridabad 121004, India
| | - Kapil Goel
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rashmi Sharma
- Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College Sola, Ahmedabad 380060, India
| | - Bhola Nath
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli 229405, India
| | - Surjit Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur 342001, India
| | | | - Rakesh Mittal
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, India
| | - Kahkasha Kahkasha
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar 814152, India
| | - Prasanna Mithra
- Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 575001, India
| | - Rajesh Sahu
- Department of Community Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India
| | - Raman P Priyadarshini
- Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Karaikal 609602, India
| | - Nikita Sharma
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur 174037, India
| | - Star Pala
- Department of Community Medicine, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong 793018, India
| | - Suneel Kumar Rohilla
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, India
| | - Jyoti Kaushal
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, India
| | - Sanjit Sah
- Global Consortium for Public Health and Research, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Wardha 442001, India
| | - Sarvesh Rustagi
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu 46000, Nepal
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Zheng F, Wang K, Wang Q, Yu T, Zhang X. The pre-analytical process management status and influencing factors of laboratory test before prescribing antimicrobial in developing country. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:283. [PMID: 36966281 PMCID: PMC10039769 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09243-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The results of laboratory testing are crucial basis for clinicians to prescribe antimicrobial. Laboratory testing is a highly complex process, and increasing evidence suggests that errors and obstacles in the pre-analytical process (PP) will affect reasonable antimicrobial use. However, PP was an easily neglected link in hospital infection management and the current situation of it and the influencing factors of management are not clear. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the department of clinical, specimen collection, transportation, and inspection in 109 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Central China. The rate of antimicrobial susceptibility test request (AST) and related indexes of above departments were calculated to describe the situation. Management characteristics (frequency of training etc.) were described as proportions and fractional probit regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors. RESULTS The average rate of non restricted-use antimicrobial was 63%, the restricted-use was 86%, the special-use was 95%. The zero obstacle rate of specimen collection was 27.3%, of specimen transportation was 19.4% and of inspection feedback was 61.7%. There was a difference between the secondary and tertiary hospitals on non restricted-use (X2 = 22.968, P < 0.001); restricted-use (X2 = 29.466, P < 0.001); special-use (X2 = 27.317, P < 0.001). Taking non restricted-use as an example, training (OR = 0.312, 95%CI: 0.148,0.429), low-frequency appraisal (OR = 0.153, 95%CI: 0.082,0.224), guidance (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.237,0.403) and information technology (OR = 0.104, 95%CI: 0.009,0.199) were positive factors. CONCLUSIONS There were substantial differences in the rate of AST request in clinical department between secondary and tertiary hospitals. The zero obstacle rate in collection, transportation and inspection department were still low. In most departments, training and performance appraisal were positive factors, guidance and information technology were positive supporting factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Zheng
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Kang Wang
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Qianning Wang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Tiantian Yu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xinping Zhang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Briquet C, Khaouch Y, Yombi JC. Perceptions, attitudes, and practices of a Belgian teaching hospital's physicians, pharmacists, and nurses regarding antibiotic use and resistance: survey towards targeted actions for Antimicrobial Stewardship. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:19. [PMID: 36934291 PMCID: PMC10024823 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01228-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to identify barriers to the proper use of antibiotics by healthcare professionals and to help the hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship develop suitable actions for the staff. METHODS In a Belgian teaching hospital, a survey was conducted among physicians, pharmacists, and nurses involved in antibiotherapy. Questions from the 2019 European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) survey were analyzed based on components of the COM-B model (capabilities, opportunities, and motivations). First, collected data were reviewed with the Ethnos software to analyze the different COM-B model components. For statistical analyses, responses were grouped into three clear-cut answers in a Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Overall, 400 staff members were included. We found that our professions, combined, have a good perception of antibiotic resistance (97.8%). For capabilities, however, only 77.2% state that they have sufficient knowledge, with 91.3%, 71.5%, and 63.0% for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, respectively. For opportunities (access to resources, information, and training), it is observed that 72.2% report having easy access to the guidelines they need to manage infections. In comparison, for 64.2% of the respondents, this information changed their opinion on the useless or inappropriate prescription, administration, and delivery of antibiotics. For 55.0%, this information has enabled them to change their practices. Finally, for motivations, 92.8% of respondents state that they know about the link between their practices and the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. However, only 65.0% of participants say they have a role in managing antibiotic resistance. We found that 5 out of 8 questions are significantly dependent on the profession: 2 inquiries related to capability, 1 to opportunity, and 2 to motivation. CONCLUSION We found that responses to the ECDC questionnaire are related to the profession. While some topics are universal/cross-functional, others must be explicitly tailored to each professional category. Information is useless if not accessible. Communication and provision of documents are thus paramount.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Briquet
- Antimicrobial Stewardship, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Pharmacy, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Youssra Khaouch
- Department of Clinical Biology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean Cyr Yombi
- Antimicrobial Stewardship, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 10 Avenue Hippocrates, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
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Patient expectations do matter - Experimental evidence on antibiotic prescribing decisions among hospital-based physicians. Health Policy 2023; 128:11-17. [PMID: 36450627 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global public health crisis of antibiotic resistance is being driven in part by over prescription of antibiotics. We aimed to assess the relative weight of patient expectations, clinical uncertainty, and past behaviour on hospital-based physicians' antibiotic prescribing decisions. METHODS A discrete choice experiment was administered among hospital-based physicians in Tuscany, Italy. Respondents were asked to choose in which of two clinical scenarios they would be more likely to prescribe antibiotics, with the two cases differing in levels of clinical uncertainty, patient expectations, and the physician's past behaviour. We fitted a conditional logistic regression. RESULTS Respondents included 1,436 hospital-based physicians. Results show that the odds of prescribing antibiotics decrease when a patient requests it (OR=0.80, 95%CI [0.72,0.89]) and increase when the physician has prescribed antibiotics to a patient under similar circumstances previously (OR=1.15, 95%CI [1.03,1.27]). We found no significant effect of clinical uncertainty on the odds of prescribing antibiotics (OR=0.96, 95%CI [0.87, 1.07]). CONCLUSIONS We show that patient expectation has a significant negative association with antibiotic prescribing among hospital-based physicians. Our findings speak to the importance of cultural context in shaping the physician's disposition when confronted with patient expectations. We suggest shared decision-making to improve prudent prescribing without compromising on patient satisfaction.
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Al-Taani GM, Al-Azzam S, Karasneh RA, Sadeq AS, Mazrouei NA, Bond SE, Conway BR, Aldeyab MA. Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Information Sources on Antibiotic Use and Resistance in Jordan. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020175. [PMID: 35203777 PMCID: PMC8868190 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious healthcare problem that affects public health globally. Appropriate understanding and knowledge of prudent antimicrobial use and resistance, along with providing evidence-based information sources, are needed for informed antibiotic prescribing practices. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, opportunity, motivation, behavior of pharmacists and their information sources regarding antibiotic use and resistance in Jordan. An online cross-sectional questionnaire was developed and administered to pharmacists during the period of July–September 2021. The survey is an adapted version of the validated European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) survey for antibiotic use and resistance. Pharmacists from all sectors (n = 384), of whom 276 (71.9%) were community pharmacists, completed an online questionnaire. While respondents scored highly (>87%) on knowledge on effective use, unnecessary use, and associated side effects of antibiotics, lower scores were recorded for knowledge on the spread of antibiotic resistance (52.9%). Pharmacists support easy access to guidelines on managing infections in 56% of cases, and easy access to materials advising prudent antibiotic use and resistance in 39.8% of cases. One-third of respondents (37.0%) reported no knowledge of any initiatives on antibiotic awareness and resistance. Pharmacists were aware (13.3%), unaware (36.2%), or unsure (50.5%) of the existence of a national antibiotic resistance action plan. Pharmacists indicated an interest in receiving more information on resistance to antibiotics (55.2%), medical conditions for which antibiotics are used (53.1%), how to use antibiotics (45.1%), prescribing of antibiotics (34.4%), and links between the health of humans, animals, and the environment (28.6%). Findings can inform antimicrobial stewardship with required interventions to improve antibiotic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghaith M. Al-Taani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan;
| | - Sayer Al-Azzam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan;
| | - Reema A. Karasneh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan;
| | - Adel Shaban Sadeq
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain 64141, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Nadia Al Mazrouei
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Stuart E. Bond
- Pharmacy Department, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield WF1 4DG, UK;
| | - Barbara R. Conway
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK;
- Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
| | - Mamoon A. Aldeyab
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +0044-01484-472825
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Ashiru-Oredope D, Hopkins S, Vasandani S, Umoh E, Oloyede O, Nilsson A, Kinsman J, Elsert L, Monnet DL. Healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with respect to antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance across 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 26. [PMID: 33769250 PMCID: PMC7995558 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.12.1900633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background While several studies have assessed knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the public, physicians and medical students in a number of EU/EEA countries with respect to antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, there is a paucity of literature for other healthcare workers. This survey aimed to fill this gap. Methods A 43-item online questionnaire was developed, validated and pilot-tested through a modified Delphi consensus process involving 87 Project Advisory Group (PAG) members, including national representatives and members of European health professional groups. The survey was distributed by the PAG and via social media to healthcare workers in 30 EU/EEA countries. Results Respondents (n = 18,365) from 30 EU/EEA countries participated. Knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic use was higher (97%) than knowledge of development and spread of antibiotic resistance (75%). Sixty percent of respondents stated they had received information on avoiding unnecessary prescribing, administering or dispensing of antibiotics. Among respondents who prescribed, administered or dispensed antibiotics, 55% had provided advice on prudent antibiotic use or management of infections to patients, but only 17% had given resources (leaflets or pamphlets). For community and hospital prescribers, fear of patient deterioration or complications was the most frequent reason (43%) for prescribing antibiotics that were considered unnecessary. Community prescribers were almost twice as likely as hospital prescribers to prescribe antibiotics due to time constraints or to maintain patient relationships. Conclusion It is important to move from raising awareness about prudent antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among healthcare workers to designing antimicrobial stewardship interventions aimed at changing relevant behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eno Umoh
- Public Health England (PHE), London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrea Nilsson
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Kinsman
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Elsert
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dominique L Monnet
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
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- The members of the #ECDCAntibioticSurvey Project Advisory Group are listed at the end of the article
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