Application of the Multi Theory Model to improve self reported determinants of appropriate antibiotic prescribing...

The present study was conducted to design, implement, and evaluate an educational program based on the Multi Theory Model (MTM) of health behaviour change to improve self-reported determinants of appropriate antibiotic prescribing among veterinary students. This mixed-methods study included qualitative interviews, questionnaire development and psychometric evaluation, a cross-sectional assessment, and a quasi-experimental intervention phase. In the intervention phase, veterinary students in the intervention and control groups completed an MTM-based questionnaire before and three months after the educational program. Descriptive statistics were reported as mean ± standard deviation, and the intervention effect in the two-group pre-post design was evaluated by comparing pre-post change scores between the intervention and control groups, corresponding to the group × time effect. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 22. Trial registration: IRCT20210911052432N1. There was a positive and significant relationship between MTM constructs and self-reported prescribing related behavioural outcomes among veterinary students. Significant group × time effects were observed for several MTM constructs, indicating more favourable changes over time in the intervention group than in the control group. The findings indicated that the MTM-based educational intervention improved self-reported determinants of appropriate antibiotic prescribing. These results suggest that MTM-based educational interventions may improve self-reported determinants of appropriate antibiotic prescribing among veterinary students and can inform future antimicrobial stewardship training programs.