Background: The Australian Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard states that patients should receive information about their antimicrobial therapy, including their indication, how and when to take them, their duration, and potential side effects. The level of information provided to hospital inpatients about their prescribed antimicrobial therapy is not well understood. Our objective was to evaluate whether adult inpatients received specific information about their antimicrobials in accordance with antimicrobial stewardship clinical care standards, to identify any gaps that needed to be addressed. Methods: Patients receiving 1 or more antimicrobials for >72 hours who were admitted on an acute or subacute ward were recruited. A survey tool was designed and conducted to establish the current status of information provision to patients. The information gathered was used to develop and deliver activities and resources to facilitate better communication about antimicrobial therapy. Results: In total, 54 patients were surveyed. Most patients (83%) were informed that they were taking antimicrobials, and of these, 96% said they knew the indication, 18% were informed of potential side effects, and 36% knew the duration. Only 22% were informed of the review plan, and only 27% knew whether antimicrobials would be continued on discharge. Written information was given to 11% of patients. Over half of these patients (56%) either wanted more information or had concerns about their antimicrobials. Patients reported difficulty in obtaining information with some receiving information via “word-of-mouth from other patients.” Moreover, 58% of patients received antimicrobial information from doctors, 13% from nurses, and 12% from pharmacists. However, most patients stated that they expected information from all 3 professional groups. In response to these survey findings, a focus group of antimicrobial stewardship experts was convened to discuss methods of improving delivery of information to patients regarding their antimicrobial therapy. We undertook nursing education to empower nurses to discuss information about antimicrobials with their patients, and we developed consumer information sheets. Conclusions: More needs to be done to inform patients about the antimicrobials used in their treatments to empower them to participate in their treatment. This factor will be the focus of future antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None