Addressing Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care-Developing Patient Information Sheets Using Co-Design...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Communication

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat.
• Inappropriate antibiotic use is linked to adverse health effects and contributes to resistance.
• Enhanced patient-practitioner communication may reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop shared decision support tools for common infections in primary care.
• To address antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) through co-design with patients and providers.
• To improve communication regarding infection management and antibiotic use.

Main Methods:

• Co-design methodology involving three sessions with primary care providers and consumers in Melbourne, Australia (Oct 2019-Apr 2020).
• Critique of existing AMS tools, identification of essential elements, and optimization of prototypes.
• Collaborative development of patient information sheets based on prioritized content and communication preferences.

Main Results:

• Patient and provider groups prioritized different information for AMS tools (e.g., when to see a doctor, management options).
• Both groups agreed on plain, concise, logical language, inclusive terms, illustrations, and A4 single-sided formats for information sheets.
• Seven patient information sheets were developed to facilitate discussion on infections, conservative management, and appropriate antibiotic use.

Conclusions:

• Co-design is an effective method for developing patient-centered decision support tools.
• The developed information sheets can support antimicrobial stewardship in primary care.
• Improved communication through these tools can encourage appropriate antibiotic use and patient engagement.