STOPAMRv1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Supporting Targeting Of antibiotics in Primary care to combat antimicrobial resistance: intervention development
IRAS ID
316695
Contact name
Ingrid Muller
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
One in three people see doctors, nurses or pharmacists each year with common infections (colds, flu, chest, ear, sinus, skin, and urine infections). Half receive antibiotics and this has increased in COVID. Over-use of antibiotics from general practices is the leading driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where antibiotics cease to be effective, meaning that most medical care could become impossible (e.g. operations, cancer care). This is one of the main threats to global health and there is an urgent need to make and implement interventions that will lower the use of antibiotics.
Prescribers have few tools to help them lower antibiotic prescribing safely. A decision-aid we developed for sore throats reduced prescribing by 30%, improved symptom control, was safe, and was liked by doctors and nurses. This aid has now been extended and will be merged into a larger evidence-based digital toolkit designed to provide: support for prescribing strategies for all common infections in adults and children; information for discussion with patients to help them understand the prescribing strategy.
This research is funded by NIHR and will develop the toolkit and carry out interviews with prescribers and pharmacists recruited by email and online to optimise the content so that the toolkit is easy to use and helpful. We will also interview members of the public recruited through social media and community platforms to optimise the contents of the patient information to ensure that it is understandable and engaging.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0122
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion