Educational antimicrobial stewardship programs in medical schools: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to modern medicine.
• Rational antimicrobial use is crucial for preserving antibiotic efficacy.
• Medical students require comprehensive training in antimicrobial stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify evidence on antimicrobial stewardship programs for medical students.
• To determine the content and instructional methods used in these programs.
• To understand the current landscape of antimicrobial stewardship education in medical schools.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the JBI three-step process.
• Searched eight databases for published and unpublished literature from 1996 onwards.
• Included studies focused on medical school curricula for antimicrobial medication prescription.

Main Results:

• Thirteen studies were included, primarily from the USA and Europe.
• Didactic lectures and web-based distance learning were common instructional methods.
• Taught concepts included antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, stewardship, and infection control.

Conclusions:

• Diverse interventions are employed to teach antimicrobial stewardship principles.
• There is a need for follow-up studies to assess skill retention post-graduation.
• Evaluating the long-term impact of these programs is essential.