Developing a theory-based behavior change intervention to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis in an Egyptian University Hospital.

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly pervasive due to multiple, complex prescribing and consuming behaviours. Accordingly, behaviour change is an important component of response to AMR. Little is known about the best approaches to change antibiotic use practices and behaviours. This project aims to develop a context-specific behaviour change strategy focusing on promoting appropriate prescription practices following the World Health Organization recommendations for surgical prophylaxis in an orthopaedic surgery unit in Egypt.Methods: The project included a formative qualitative research study was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to explore the determinants for inappropriate prescription of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis at an orthopaedic unit. The intervention was developed to following the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) in a knowledge co-production workshop with infection prevention and control experts that ensured that the theory based intervention was a culturally acceptable, practical and implementable intervention. Results: The prescription of surgical prophylaxis was influenced by five TDF domains including, knowledge, belief in consequences (mistrust towards infection prevention and control measures), environmental factors (lack of prescription guidelines) , professional role and reinforcement (a lack of appropriate follow up actions influenced prescription of surgical prophylaxis). The appropriate set of behaviour change functions of BCW and related activities to improve the current practices included education, enablement, persuasion, environmental restructuring and restriction. Conclusions The study showed that a theory based and context specific intervention can be created by using the TDF and BCW together with knowledge-co creation to improve the prescription of surgical prophylaxis in and Egyptian orthopaedic unit. The intervention need to piloted and scaled up.