A complex ePrescribing-based Anti-Microbial Stewardship (ePAMS+) intervention for hospitals combining technological...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
• Inappropriate antimicrobial use in healthcare settings accelerates resistance.
• A novel ePrescribing-based Anti-Microbial Stewardship intervention (ePAMS+) was developed to address this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of implementing the ePAMS+ intervention in NHS acute care organizations.
• To assess the feasibility of collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data for future effectiveness trials.
• To inform the design of a larger-scale trial evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ePAMS+.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods feasibility trial involving qualitative interviews, observations, and focus groups with staff and patients.
• Development of a Fidelity Index to objectively measure the enactment of ePAMS+.
• Quantitative data collection to assess antimicrobial prescribing patterns, including daily defined doses.

Main Results:

• The trial will provide essential data on the feasibility of ePAMS+ implementation and outcome measurement.
• Qualitative data will offer insights into staff and patient perspectives on the intervention.
• Quantitative data will inform the sample size and design for a future hybrid cluster-randomised stepped-wedge clinical trial.

Conclusions:

• This feasibility trial is crucial for evaluating the potential of ePAMS+ to improve antimicrobial stewardship.
• Findings will guide the subsequent large-scale trial assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the intervention.
• Results will be disseminated to stakeholders, published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at conferences.