Khezar Hayat1,2,3,4,5, Pengchao Li1,2,3,5, Meagen Rosenthal6, Sen Xu1,2,3,5, Jie Chang1,2,3,5, Ali Hassan Gillani1,2,3,5, Faiz Ullah Khan1,2,3,4, Muhammad Rehan Sarwar7, Shiyu Ji1,2,3,5, Li Shi1,2,3,5, Aoyu Cheng1,2,3,5, Yu Fang1,2,3,5. 1. Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. 2. Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. 3. Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi'an, China. 4. Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 5. Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Xi'an, China. 6. Department of Pharmacy Administration, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA. 7. Centre for Medicine use and safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are commonly used worldwide to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The current study aimed to investigate the perspective of pharmacists on community-based ASPs in China. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in the capital cities of three different provinces of China between March 2019 and July 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used to recruit respondents. Results: A response rate of 87.4% (416/476) was obtained. A large number of respondents (n = 308, 74.0%) believed that ASPs are vital to improving patient care (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Approximately one-third of the respondents (n = 142, 34.1%) always ask patients about their knowledge related to antimicrobials (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Additionally, a considerable number of respondents (n = 127, 30.5%) always, or often (n = 117, 28.1%) collaborated with other healthcare professionals (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Age, gender, and experience were observed to have a significant association (p < 0.05) with median scores of knowledge about antibiotics, perceptions, and practices on ASPs.Conclusions: The perceptions of pharmacists regarding ASPs were positive. However, gaps in knowledge about some aspects of antibiotics and participation in ASPs were found. The development of regional community-based ASPs is urgently required.
Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are commonly used worldwide to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The current study aimed to investigate the perspective of pharmacists on community-based ASPs in China. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in the capital cities of three different provinces of China between March 2019 and July 2019. A systematic random sampling method was used to recruit respondents. Results: A response rate of 87.4% (416/476) was obtained. A large number of respondents (n = 308, 74.0%) believed that ASPs are vital to improving patient care (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Approximately one-third of the respondents (n = 142, 34.1%) always ask patients about their knowledge related to antimicrobials (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Additionally, a considerable number of respondents (n = 127, 30.5%) always, or often (n = 117, 28.1%) collaborated with other healthcare professionals (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Age, gender, and experience were observed to have a significant association (p < 0.05) with median scores of knowledge about antibiotics, perceptions, and practices on ASPs.Conclusions: The perceptions of pharmacists regarding ASPs were positive. However, gaps in knowledge about some aspects of antibiotics and participation in ASPs were found. The development of regional community-based ASPs is urgently required.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antimicrobial stewardship; China; antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance; community pharmacists; practices