Feasibility of a community pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship intervention (PAMSI): An innovative approach to improve patients' understanding of their antibiotics

Allison, Rosalie; Chapman, Sarah; Howard, Philip; Thornley, Tracey; Ashiru-Oredope, Diane; Walker, Sue; Jones, Leah F.; McNulty, Cliodna A.M.

Abstract

Background: Community pharmacy staff have an opportunity to play a pivotal role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) due to their expertise in medicines and accessibility to patients. Objectives: To develop and test the feasibility of a pharmacy AMS intervention (PAMSI) to increase community pharmacy staff's capability, opportunity and motivation to check antibiotic appropriateness and provide self-care and adherence advice when dispensing antibiotics. Methods: The PAMSI was centred around an Antibiotic Checklist, completed by patients and pharmacy staff, to facilitate personalized advice to the patient, based on their reported knowledge. An educational webinar for staff and patient-facing materials were also developed. Staff and patients completing Antibiotic Checklists were invited to provide feedback via questionnaires. Results: In February 2019, 12 community pharmacies in England trialled the intervention. Forty-three pharmacy staff evaluated the educational webinar and reported increases in their understanding, confidence, commitment and intention to use the tools provided to give adherence and self-care advice. Over 4 weeks, 931 Antibiotic Checklists were completed. Staff reported being more focused on giving advice and able to address patients' knowledge gaps (mainly: likely symptom duration; alcohol and food consumption advice; possible side effects from antibiotics; returning unused antibiotics to the pharmacy), resulting in increased self-reported effective and meaningful conversations. Conclusions: Implementation of a PAMSI is feasible and effectively promotes AMS. Pharmacy staff and commissioners should consider this within their AMS plans. An optional digital format of the Antibiotic Checklist should be explored, for patients who are not collecting their antibiotic prescriptions themselves, and to save printing costs.

Citation

Allison, R., Chapman, S., Howard, P., Thornley, T., Ashiru-Oredope, D., Walker, S., Jones, L. F., & McNulty, C. A. (2020). Feasibility of a community pharmacy antimicrobial stewardship intervention (PAMSI): An innovative approach to improve patients' understanding of their antibiotics. JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, 2(4), Article dlaa089. https://doi.org/10.1093/jacamr/dlaa089

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 29, 2020
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Journal: JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
• Print ISSN: 2632-1823
• Electronic ISSN: 2632-1823
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: dlaa089
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jacamr/dlaa089
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/15939779
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/jacamr/article/2/4/dlaa089/5943021