Training program for Yerevan family physicians on antibiotic prescription

Abstract

The development of antibiotic resistance, known since the early days of antibiotic therapy, has increased in recent years. Antimicrobial resistance can result in increased morbidity, mortality and health-care costs. It has also recently been described as a threat to global stability and national security. Because bacteria do not recognize international boundaries no single nation is protected from the problem of antimicrobial resistance, and Armenia is not an exception. One of the key determinants of developing antimicrobial resistance is overprescription of antibiotics by physicians. This grant application proposes to develop, conduct and evaluate analogous training program on antibiotic prescribing practices among family physicians in Armenia. The major targeted outcome is the improvement in physicians’ antibiotic prescribing practices of antibiotics. The goal of this program is to reduce the rate of overprescription of antibiotics through an educational program for family physicians in Armenia. Objectives: 1) at the end of 5-day training period the mean difference of pre-post knowledge scores in the intervention group will be 20% higher than in the control group, 2) 3 months after the program implementation the mean difference of pre-post knowledge scores in the intervention group will be 15% higher than in the control group. Study population: family physicians practicing in Yerevan. According to the World Bank Health Project Implementation Unit (WB HPIU) there will be approximately 160 family v Diana Gevorgyan physicians by 2004. All of them will be included in the study, and randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Duration of this program will be 6 months (September 2004 to February 2005). The program will include the following phases: pre-intervention, training, first post-intervention data collection, second post-intervention data collection, analysis and preparation of a final report. Total budget will be $12,915. It includes personnel, training and operational expenses.