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Adaptation and implementation of the ARK (Antibiotic Review Kit) Intervention to safely and substantially reduce antibiotic use in hospitals: A feasibility study

Cross, ELA; Sivyer, KA; Islam, J; Santillo, M; Mowbray, F; Peto, TEA; Walker, A; ... Llewelyn, M; + view all (2019) Adaptation and implementation of the ARK (Antibiotic Review Kit) Intervention to safely and substantially reduce antibiotic use in hospitals: A feasibility study. Journal of Hospital Infection , 103 (3) pp. 268-275. 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.07.017. Green open access

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Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in secondary care depend on clinicians undertaking antibiotic prescription reviews but decisions to limit antibiotic treatment at review are complex. / Aim: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing ARK (Antibiotic Review Kit), a behaviour change intervention made up of four components (brief online tool, prescribing decision aid, regular data collection and feedback process, and patient leaflet) to support stopping antibiotic treatment when it is safe to do so among hospitalised patients; before definitive evaluation through a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. / Methods: Acceptability of the different intervention elements was assessed over 12-weeks by uptake of the online tool, adoption of the decision aid into prescribing practice, and rates of decisions to stop antibiotics at review (assessed through repeated point-prevalence surveys). Patient perceptions of the information leaflet were assessed through a brief questionnaire. / Findings: All elements of the intervention were successfully introduced into practice. A total of 132 staff encompassing a broad range of prescribers and non-prescribers completed the online tool (19.4 per 100 acute beds), including 97% (32/33) of the pre-specified essential clinical staff. Among 588 prescription charts evaluated in seven point prevalence surveys over the 12-week implementation period, 82% overall (76-90% at each survey) used the decision aid. The median antibiotic stop rate post implementation was 36% (range 29-40% at each survey) compared with 9% pre implementation (p<0.001). / Conclusion: ARK provides a feasible and acceptable mechanism to support stopping antibiotics safely at post-prescription reviews in an acute hospital setting.

Type: Article
Title: Adaptation and implementation of the ARK (Antibiotic Review Kit) Intervention to safely and substantially reduce antibiotic use in hospitals: A feasibility study
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.07.017
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.07.017
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship, prescribing practice, antibiotic usage
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Inst of Clinical Trials and Methodology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Inst of Clinical Trials and Methodology > MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10079305
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