Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study
Background: Promoting evidence-based antibiotic prescribing through successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes is critical to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for common infections in primary care. This requires a coordinated multidisciplinary effort. Such pharmacist–prescriber...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5090 |
| _version_ | 1818382998818521088 |
|---|---|
| author | Oliver van Hecke Renier Coetzee |
| author_facet | Oliver van Hecke Renier Coetzee |
| author_sort | Oliver van Hecke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Promoting evidence-based antibiotic prescribing through successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes is critical to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for common infections in primary care. This requires a coordinated multidisciplinary effort. Such pharmacist–prescriber partnerships have been effective in high-income countries (HICs). Yet, evidence generated in such countries is not always applicable because of different social determinants of health.
Methods: A multidisciplinary workshop was conducted with pharmacists and clinicians (doctors, nurses) on community-based antibiotic stewardship, the purpose of which was to explore how and where such partnerships might work in publicly funded primary care clinics in the greater Cape Metro region.
Results: Participants perceived that promoting effective AMS was a priority for South African primary healthcare. However, it was clear that there are many hurdles to overcome working in settings that are relatively resource-poor. Prescribing guidelines needed to be harmonised. Participants felt that staff training on the principles of AMS should be mandatory. Research was urgently needed to better understand their community’s understanding of antibiotic use and AMS, and to champion outreach projects in the community.
Conclusion: Important stakeholder perspectives in the community were highlighted to promote a multidisciplinary approach to AMS initiatives in primary care. These will need to be addressed to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:59:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72c4cce016214a63bc0757b9411a5be0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:59:23Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-72c4cce016214a63bc0757b9411a5be02022-12-21T23:19:33ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042020-06-01621e1e410.4102/safp.v62i1.50904049Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory studyOliver van Hecke0Renier Coetzee1Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OxfordSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Science, University of the Western Cape, Cape TownBackground: Promoting evidence-based antibiotic prescribing through successful antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes is critical to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for common infections in primary care. This requires a coordinated multidisciplinary effort. Such pharmacist–prescriber partnerships have been effective in high-income countries (HICs). Yet, evidence generated in such countries is not always applicable because of different social determinants of health. Methods: A multidisciplinary workshop was conducted with pharmacists and clinicians (doctors, nurses) on community-based antibiotic stewardship, the purpose of which was to explore how and where such partnerships might work in publicly funded primary care clinics in the greater Cape Metro region. Results: Participants perceived that promoting effective AMS was a priority for South African primary healthcare. However, it was clear that there are many hurdles to overcome working in settings that are relatively resource-poor. Prescribing guidelines needed to be harmonised. Participants felt that staff training on the principles of AMS should be mandatory. Research was urgently needed to better understand their community’s understanding of antibiotic use and AMS, and to champion outreach projects in the community. Conclusion: Important stakeholder perspectives in the community were highlighted to promote a multidisciplinary approach to AMS initiatives in primary care. These will need to be addressed to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the community.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5090antimicrobial stewardshipamsprimary carepharmacyantibiotics |
| spellingShingle | Oliver van Hecke Renier Coetzee Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study South African Family Practice antimicrobial stewardship ams primary care pharmacy antibiotics |
| title | Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study |
| title_full | Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study |
| title_short | Establishing a pharmacist–prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the Western Cape: An exploratory study |
| title_sort | establishing a pharmacist prescriber partnership in publicly funded primary healthcare clinics to optimise antibiotic prescribing in the western cape an exploratory study |
| topic | antimicrobial stewardship ams primary care pharmacy antibiotics |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5090 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olivervanhecke establishingapharmacistprescriberpartnershipinpubliclyfundedprimaryhealthcareclinicstooptimiseantibioticprescribinginthewesterncapeanexploratorystudy AT reniercoetzee establishingapharmacistprescriberpartnershipinpubliclyfundedprimaryhealthcareclinicstooptimiseantibioticprescribinginthewesterncapeanexploratorystudy |