Evaluation of programmatic changes to an antimicrobial stewardship program with house officer feedback

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management
• Medical Education

Background:

• Optimal functioning of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) relies on prescriber-steward collaboration and understanding of stewardship principles.
• Programmatic adjustments informed by feedback can enhance ASP success and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate house officers' experiences with an academic medical center's ASP.
• To assess the impact of programmatic improvements on house officer perceptions and interactions with the ASP.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to house officers at an academic medical center.
• The survey assessed experiences with the ASP in 2008, prior to interventions, and in 2010, after programmatic changes.

Main Results:

• Most respondents recognized the importance of ASPs in combating resistance, improving care, preventing errors, and controlling costs.
• A significant increase in positive educational experiences (84% to 98%) and a decrease in procedural confusion (59% to 39%) were observed post-intervention.
• ASPs provided key reminders for renal function adjustments (78%) and error prevention (38%).

Conclusions:

• House officer feedback directly influenced ASP policy modifications.
• These policy changes demonstrably enhanced the overall house officer experience with the ASP.