Antimicrobial Stewardship from Health Professionals’ Perspective: Awareness, Barriers, and Level of Implementation of the Program

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate health professionals’ perceptions regarding the level of implementation of the Antimicrobials Stewardship (AMS) programs in Jordanian tertiary hospitals and to assess the perceived barriers to its implementation. During this cross-sectional study, a total of 157 healthcare providers agreed to participate (response rate 96.3%). Participants were asked to complete an electronic survey after meeting them at their working sites. Only 43.9% of the healthcare providers (n = 69) reported having an AMS committee in their hospital settings. The results suggested that private hospitals have significantly better AMS implementation compared to public hospitals among four areas (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the results showed that the most widely available strategies to implement AMS were infectious disease/microbiology advice (n = 112, 71.3%), and treatment guidelines (n = 111, 70.7%). Additionally, the study revealed that the main barrier to AMS implementation was the lack of information technology support (n = 125, 79.6%). These findings could draw managers’ attention to the importance of AMS and support the health care provider’s practice of AMS in Jordanian tertiary hospitals by making the right decisions and the required modifications regarding the strategies needed for the implementation of AMS programs.

Barriers, facilitators, perceptions and impact of interventions in implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals of low-middle and middle countries: a scoping review

“…Eleven studies each identified the absence of leadership and minimal governmental support [ 27 , 28 , 35 – 42 ], and a lack of reliable laboratory infrastructure and microbiology laboratory support as challenges to effective ASP implementation [ 28 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 – 45 ]. Other identified barriers included inadequate orientation and training on ASP including rational antimicrobial use [ 27 , 30 , 36 , 41 , 44 , 46 ], prescribers’ negative attitudes to changes in antibiotic practices [ 27 , 30 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 43 , 47 ], and a lack of dedicated ASP funds [ 28 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 41 ]. Five studies each cited the absence of approved national guidelines or educational programs [ 27 , 36 , 43 , 45 , 48 ], and time constraints for prescribers [ 28 , 30 , 36 , 41 , 48 ] as barriers.…”

“…KAP) regarding ASP. Six of these studies (29%, 6/21) reported on all three elements: knowledge, attitude, and practice [ 27 , 45 , 47 , 50 – 52 ], and six others exclusively assessed ASP practice compliance [ 32 , 53 – 57 ]. The majority of the studies revealed that prescribers (physicians or pharmacists) had a sub-optimal knowledge of ASP and its basic principles [ 31 , 45 , 47 , 51 , 52 , 58 ].…”

“…Prescribers also had a low level of compliancein sending specimens for culture and susceptibility tests [ 44 , 45 , 52 , 60 ]. However, tracking, reporting, and documenting antibacterial use in patient care had a better level of implementation among prescribers [ 29 , 32 , 52 , 53 , 60 ].…”

Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions, Barriers, and Facilitators towards Adopting Computerised Clinical Decision Support Systems in Antimicrobial Stewardship in Jordanian Hospitals

“…Moreover, healthcare professionals perceived that electronic prescribing is beneficial and would reduce the high cost of prescribing antibiotics (i.e., reduce the expenditure of antibiotics), improve the efficacy and safety of antibiotic use, and may improve the ability to deliver AMS to optimise the rational use of antibiotics. In addition, many systematic reviews and studies demonstrated the impact of adopting the CDSS on antibiotics management and AMS [ 18 , 19 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Extended Spectrum- and Carbapenemase-Based β-Lactam Resistance in the Arabian Peninsula—A Descriptive Review of Recent Years

“…In this respect, the need for a doctor’s prescription, a consultation with infection control teams, an accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections, and antibiotic sensitivity is essential [ 50 ]. It is encouraging to note that some of these steps are currently being implemented in the Arabian Peninsula [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ].…”