Patient involvement in the review of Antimicrobial Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of early patient engagement on the outcome of their antimicrobial 48-72 hour review: an interrupted time-series intervention study
IRAS ID
244141
Contact name
Stephen Hughes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Due to the acute presentation of infective conditions, antimicrobial prescribing is very paternalistic with little to no involvement of the patient in the decision making. Patients typically remain passive throughout the antimicrobial prescribing decision-making and this can erode patient engagement and thus treatment adherence in the near future resulting in poorer treatment outcomes.
To improve patient engagement and provide a subjective measure of antimicrobial treatment response, we look to empower patients by providing them with key information on their treatment, setting their expectations and encouraging them to participate in the review of their antimicrobial therapy. This early engagement and encouraged shared decision making is expected to improve the quality of the review and the resultant decisions made, measured through switching of parenteral to oral antimicrobials, out-patient parenteral antimicrobial therapy facilitation and stopping of inappropriate antimicrobials, leading to measured patient outcomes such as reduced length of stay and antimicrobial adverse events and re-admissions.Patients presenting to the acute admission unit of a single acute NHS trust that require intravenous antibiotics for urinary or respiratory infections will be assessed for inclusion within the study. An interventional group will receive additional pharmacy education on the antimicrobial therapy. A patient information leaflet will also be provided to the patient to reiterate the main educational points discussed by the pharmacist. A control group with no intervention nor additional information receive will be used to measure impact of the study intervention.
The outcome of patient's antibiotic therapy, as measured by the doctor's review of antibiotics after 48-72 hours, will be collected from routine clinical admission details, including total length of stay, patient in-hospital mortality and 30-day emergency re-admission.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0635
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion