The potential counter effect of COVID-19 outbreak on an antimicrobial agents prescribing educational intervention.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Educational interventions targeting health care professionals can contribute to improving knowledge and behaviors of antimicrobial agents prescribing. However, the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak caused a disruption of the current practices and treatment guidelines. Therefore, it is highly likely that the pandemic had its disruptive effect on any educational interventions that were going on during the outbreak. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving antimicrobial agents prescribing. METHODOLOGY: This was a randomized controlled study that included 69 resident physicians in a teaching hospital. The intervention group received an educational intervention focusing on antimicrobial agents prescribing and resistance. Before and after the intervention, outpatient antimicrobial agents prescribing rates for the two study arms were compared for the pre- and post-intervention periods. Additionally, all participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire that measured their knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intention towards antimicrobial agents resistance and prescription. The post-intervention period included the months of February, March, and June 2020. April and May were excluded from the study period since clinics were closed due to the COVID -19 pandemic. RESULTS: Post-intervention, the rate of antimicrobial agents prescribing by the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.001). Mean fear score for the intervention group was significantly lower than that for the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate failure of the educational intervention in improving antimicrobial agents prescribing. However, an unexpected counter effect of the COVID-19 outbreak is highly likely.