Article 8: Educational Intervention – Physicians and Pharmacists

Article # 8:

Title: Decreasing antibiotic use through a joint intervention targeting physicians and pharmacists.

 


Aim of Intervention:  To decrease population antibiotic use through an educational intervention targeting primary care physicians' and community pharmacists' attitudes and knowledge.

Target Population: Physicians and Pharmacists

Target Place: North Portugal

Time Period:  May 2013to October 2013

Intervention Tool(s): The intervention consisted of group outreach visits (40 minutes), and targeted at changing the knowledge-attitudes previously found to be associated with poor prescribing of antibiotics in the case of physicians and propensity to dispense antibiotics without medical prescription in the case of pharmacists. An observational cohort study of a sample of 1100 primary care physicians and 1200 community pharmacists was carried out to identify knowledge-attitudes associated with inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. The independent variables (knowledge-attitudes) was assessed by a self-administered postal questionnaire and dependent variables were some quantity and quality indicators of the prescribing antibiotics, and consumption data.

Technology: Access to Portugal’s National Health System’s Database.

Results:   In comparison with the control group, the intervention was associated with significant reduction in overall antibiotic use in the following year.

Costs: Printing of questionnaires, staff fees.


Personal Reflection: Since the authority of prescribing and dispensing antibiotics lie in the hands of physicians and pharmacists, respectively, this would suggest a good approach in lowering unnecessary antibiotics prescription. A feasible concept with minimal costs and promising outcome.

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