Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to cause 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. Northern Ireland
(NI) has the highest rate of antimicrobial prescribing in the UK with 80% of antimicrobials prescribed in primary care. This
study investigates prescribing patterns of GPs across NI, their opinions of AMR and the impact this has on tacking AMR
in NI.
Aim: Determine the prescribing patterns of antimicrobials by GPs in NI and compare with available data from previous
studies to establish if there is a link between GP prescribing patterns and AMR.
Method: Sixty general practitioner (GP) practices throughout NI received an online questionnaire developed in this study.
Prescribing data was gathered from the Business Services Organisation (BSO) in order to compare with GP responses
and to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted antibiotic prescribing rates in NI. Data was inputted into
Microsoft Office Excel and statistical tests were ran on IMB SPSS Statistics 27.
Results: A response rate of 25% for the questionnaire was achieved. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic in NI was
the broad-spectrum antibiotic amoxicillin. The most common indication that GPs prescribed antibiotics for was urinary
tract infections (UTI) (53%), followed by upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) (20%) of which over 80% are caused by
viral infections. GPs feel a significant pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics when they are not clinically
necessary, with 73% of GPs experiencing this “often” or “very often”. 86% of GPs strongly believe that the public require
a greater awareness of AMR, however only 60% of GPs correctly identified the definition of AMR. There was a reduction
in antibiotic prescribing for 8 of the 10 antibiotics investigated in this study between 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study it is proposed that there is a public campaign to raise more awareness of
AMR, GPs receive greater support with regards to antibiotic prescribing and more research is carried out investigating the
impact remote consultations have an antibiotic prescribing patterns and AMR.
References/Acknowledgments:
Business Services Organisation. Prescribing by GP Practice Datasets. Belfast: Business Services Organisation.
Available at: http://gpdatasets.hscni.net/2021-2022.php
World Health Organisation. (2021) Antimicrobial resistance. Geneva: World Health Organisation. Available at:
https://www.who.int/about/contact-us
Email address: [email protected]
(NI) has the highest rate of antimicrobial prescribing in the UK with 80% of antimicrobials prescribed in primary care. This
study investigates prescribing patterns of GPs across NI, their opinions of AMR and the impact this has on tacking AMR
in NI.
Aim: Determine the prescribing patterns of antimicrobials by GPs in NI and compare with available data from previous
studies to establish if there is a link between GP prescribing patterns and AMR.
Method: Sixty general practitioner (GP) practices throughout NI received an online questionnaire developed in this study.
Prescribing data was gathered from the Business Services Organisation (BSO) in order to compare with GP responses
and to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted antibiotic prescribing rates in NI. Data was inputted into
Microsoft Office Excel and statistical tests were ran on IMB SPSS Statistics 27.
Results: A response rate of 25% for the questionnaire was achieved. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic in NI was
the broad-spectrum antibiotic amoxicillin. The most common indication that GPs prescribed antibiotics for was urinary
tract infections (UTI) (53%), followed by upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) (20%) of which over 80% are caused by
viral infections. GPs feel a significant pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics when they are not clinically
necessary, with 73% of GPs experiencing this “often” or “very often”. 86% of GPs strongly believe that the public require
a greater awareness of AMR, however only 60% of GPs correctly identified the definition of AMR. There was a reduction
in antibiotic prescribing for 8 of the 10 antibiotics investigated in this study between 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study it is proposed that there is a public campaign to raise more awareness of
AMR, GPs receive greater support with regards to antibiotic prescribing and more research is carried out investigating the
impact remote consultations have an antibiotic prescribing patterns and AMR.
References/Acknowledgments:
Business Services Organisation. Prescribing by GP Practice Datasets. Belfast: Business Services Organisation.
Available at: http://gpdatasets.hscni.net/2021-2022.php
World Health Organisation. (2021) Antimicrobial resistance. Geneva: World Health Organisation. Available at:
https://www.who.int/about/contact-us
Email address: [email protected]
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 21 Oct 2024 |
| Event | European Society for Clinical Pharmacy Kraków symposium 2024: Implementing and scaling sustainable clinical pharmacy practice - DoubleTree by Hilton, Krakow, Poland, Krakow, Poland Duration: 20 Oct 2024 → 23 Oct 2024 Conference number: 52nd https://escpweb.org/escp_events/escp-krakow-symposium-2024/ |
Conference
| Conference | European Society for Clinical Pharmacy Kraków symposium 2024: Implementing and scaling sustainable clinical pharmacy practice |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ESCP 2024 |
| Country/Territory | Poland |
| City | Krakow |
| Period | 20/10/24 → 23/10/24 |
| Internet address |