Nurses' Perceptions, Involvement, Confidence and Perceived Barriers Towards Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Disease Control
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses significant challenges, increasing healthcare costs and patient mortality.
• Hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are crucial for optimizing antimicrobial use.
• Nurses play a vital role in the success of ASPs within healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nurses' perceptions and involvement in hospital-based ASPs.
• To assess nurses' confidence levels in performing ASP-related activities.
• To identify barriers hindering nurses' effective participation in ASPs and provide future recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 583 nurses in eleven hospitals in Pakistan.
• Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported positive perceptions (median score 18/20) and high confidence (median score 22/28) in ASPs.
• Involvement in ASPs showed a median score of 18/64, indicating room for improvement.
• Key barriers identified include lack of knowledge, insufficient administrative support, and heavy workload.

Conclusions:

• Pakistani nurses possess a positive outlook and confidence towards ASPs.
• Limited involvement in ASPs highlights a need for targeted interventions.
• Addressing identified barriers is essential to enhance nurses' role in antimicrobial stewardship.