Primary care physicians' attitudes and perceptions towards antibiotic resistance and outpatient antibiotic stewardship in the USA: a qualitative study

Rachel M Zetts, Andrea Stoesz, Andrea M Garcia, Jason N Doctor, Jeffrey S Gerber, Jeffrey A Linder, David Y Hyun, Rachel M Zetts, Andrea Stoesz, Andrea M Garcia, Jason N Doctor, Jeffrey S Gerber, Jeffrey A Linder, David Y Hyun

Abstract

Objectives: At least 30% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. Outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to improve prescribing and address the threat of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of primary care physicians (PCPs) attitudes towards antibiotic prescribing and outpatient antibiotic stewardship is needed to identify barriers to stewardship implementation and help tailor stewardship strategies. The aim of this study was to assess PCPs current attitudes towards antibiotic resistance, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and the feasibility of outpatient stewardship efforts.

Design: Eight focus groups with PCPs were conducted by an independent moderator using a moderator guide. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed and coded for major themes using deductive and inductive content analysis methods.

Setting: Focus groups were conducted in four US cities: Philadelphia, Birmingham, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Participants: Two focus groups were conducted in each city-one with family medicine and internal medicine physicians and one with paediatricians. A total of 26 family medicine/internal medicine physicians and 26 paediatricians participated.

Results: Participants acknowledged that resistance is an important public health issue, but not as important as other pressing problems (eg, obesity, opioids). Many considered resistance to be more of a hospital issue. While participants recognised inappropriate prescribing as a problem in outpatient settings, many felt that the key drivers were non-primary care settings (eg, urgent care clinics, retail clinics) and patient demand. Participants reacted positively to stewardship efforts aimed at educating patients and clinicians. They questioned the validity of antibiotic prescribing metrics. This scepticism was due to a number of factors, including the feasibility of capturing prescribing quality, a belief that physicians will 'game the system' to improve their measures, and dissatisfaction and distrust of quality measurement in general.

Conclusions: Stakeholders will need to consider physician attitudes and beliefs about antibiotic stewardship when implementing interventions aimed at improving prescribing.

Keywords: infectious diseases; primary care; public health; qualitative research; quality in health care.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: JAL, JSG and JND all received honoraria for time dedicated to this research project. JND has received consultant fees from Precision Health Economics and University of Pennsylvania Health System. JND was supported by grants from the National Institutes of on Aging (R21AG057395, R21AG057400, R21AG057396, R21AG057383, P30AG024968, R33AG057395), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA046226), the National Institute of Arthirist and Musculoskeletal Conditions (R01 AR073486), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (R01 HS026506) and the Patient-CenteredCentred Outcome Research Institute (CDRN-1306–04864). JAL was supported by grants from the National Institute on AgingAgeing (R21AG057400, R21AG057396, R21AG057383, R21AG057395), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (R01HS024930, R01HS026506), The Peterson Center on Healthcare, and a contract from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HHSP2332015000201).

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

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