Speakers - 2025

Biography

I work as an infectious disease clinical research nurse manager at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. I am a second-year PhD student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. I received the Irish Research Council fellowship in 2023 for this PhD project.

I have a master’s degree in public health and clinical and translational research and a professional diploma in health economics apart from a bachelor's degree in nursing.

I have enormous experience in working on and coordinating observational studies, clinical trials, and biobank studies related to infectious diseases.
 

Abstract

Background 

There is a growing consensus that the involvement of patients in healthcare-based research and as equal partners in healthcare decision-making enhances their opportunity to improve service and outcomes. Our research is focused on the patient perspective in the successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in a hospital set-up with the following objectives:. 

To explore patient knowledge, understanding and perceptions of antimicrobial resistance and the role of patients in AMS (Antimicrobial Stewardship) 

To identify barriers and facilitators of patient engagement in AMS programs. 

Methods 

A questionnaire survey using previously validated questions on antimicrobial resistance and stewardship was conducted among 360 hospitalized patients from six patient groups (cystic fibrosis, hematology/oncology, bone and joint infection, renal, outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT), general infectious disease). Sixty patients from each group were recruited using purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis.  36 semi-structured interviews were conducted, followed by the questionnaire survey, and the qualitative data were analyzed using NVIVO. 

Results 

Male participants made up 56% (n = 202), female participants made up 43% (n = 156), and 1% (n = 3) chose not to respond. Most respondents were from the 20-55 age group (84%). 

93% had never heard the term "antimicrobial stewardship" but showed an understanding and awareness of antimicrobial resistance. 56% reported receiving advice from the doctor when prescribed antibiotics. Preference for approaching healthcare professionals with antibiotic treatment questions was doctors 67%, nurses 21%, and pharmacists 12%. Overall, 87% responded that they would complete the entire prescribed course of antibiotics even if they felt better after taking 2-3 doses; this figure rose to 94% among the cystic fibrosis group. 

68% of respondents were happy to ask the doctor questions about the type of infection they were being treated for and the risk involved in receiving antibiotics, with the cystic fibrosis and OPAT groups leading this list with 83% and 82%, respectively. 

Conclusion 

Patients appear to have a good understanding of AMR and are open to discussing infection treatment plans with healthcare professionals, though they may not be familiar with the terminology used. The next phase of our study will use qualitative methods to explore how patients might have a role to play in AMS.