Effectiveness of Pharmacist-Led Brief Educational Intervention for Adherence to the Antibiotics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (EATSA) in Post-Conflict Rural Areas of Pakistan: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Globally, lower respiratory infections (LRTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases whichaffect majority of the population and as a result of inappropriate antibiotics practices lead to antibiotic resistance (AR). An individual randomized control trial will be conducted in the post-conflict areas of Swat, Pakistan, through a random sampling method. Patients aged > 18 years will be recruited from five community pharmacies and assigned to equally sized groups to receive either pharmacist-led education interventions or usual care with no intervention. A total of 400 (control = 200, study = 200) patients will be included, with prescriptions comprised of antibiotics for LRTIs. The outcomes measured in both groups will be a combination of treatment cure rate and adherence, which will be assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and pill count. The trial comprises pharmacist-led educational interventions to improve treatment outcomes for patients with LRTIs. This study might establish the groundwork for pharmaceutical care of LRTIs patients with antibacterial therapy and the future delivery of a care strategy for the improvement of LRTIs treatment outcomes in post-conflict, remote areas of the third world and LMICs.

Assessment of antibiotic storage practices, knowledge, and awareness related to antibiotic uses and antibiotic resistance among household members in post-conflict areas of Pakistan: Bi-central study

“…The current study is part of the main trial which contributes baseline data to the registered protocol (ChiCTR2000040453) and is a scheduled phase of the research project. The results that have been presented are following the EATSA protocol and serve as a foundation for the beginning of the main trial ( 27 ).…”

Evaluation of Consumers Perspective on the Consumption of Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistance, and Recommendations to Improve the Rational use of Antibiotics: An Exploratory Qualitative Study From Post-Conflicted Region of Pakistan

“…Antibiotics are considered as life-saving drugs; although the 19th century was dubbed the “Golden Era” as a result of its discovery, the golden period did not last long due to the rise of various resistant infections ( Akhund et al, 2019 ). ABR is a long-standing problem ( Khan and Fang, 2021 ). ABR has drastically expanded in the twenty-first century and is primarily attributed to irrational prescription and incorrect usage.…”

Impact of a pharmacist-led educational intervention on knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the rational use of antibiotics among healthcare workers in a secondary care hospital in Punjab, Pakistan

“…A systematic review concluded that educational intervention concomitant with other antimicrobial stewardship interventions introduced by pharmacists produced beneficial outcomes and reduced the duration of antimicrobial therapy ( Monmaturapoj et al, 2021 ). However, limited literature is available concerning educational intervention led by pharmacists in Pakistan ( Butt et al, 2019 ; Khan and Fang, 2021 ). Moreover, literary resources covering secondary care facilities concerning ASP interventions and implementation are also scarce ( Rupali and Kumar, 2022 ).…”