The importance of data standardisation and feedback

To ensure the intervention would be successful the following also occurred during implementation:

• Formalisation of measurable AS goals for the group, which consisted of a sustainable reduction in overall antibiotic consumption of 10% (outcome goal) as well as 6- and 12-month goals of increasing implementation (spread goal) to at least one third and two thirds of institutions, respectively
• To facilitate self-monitoring and eventually outcome feedback, a standardised measure and a “low-hanging fruit” toolkit for pharmacists was developed and launched through face-face regional training workshops. (See Step 6.6)
• Submission of data for standardised group-wide monitoring was at first encouraged and subsequently made compulsory as part of the performance management evaluations
• Feedback on the progress of implementation and of changes in antibiotic consumption was provided via email every month to all hospitals by means of multiple graphs and comparative tables.

If you remember the importance of feedback was mentioned in both Week 3 Measurement and Week 5 Behaviour Change. Professor Davey referred to the table below:

• Following hospital self-monitoring regarding the setting of goals, action plans were adapted (before the next scheduled AMS committee meeting) to incorporate how much time pharmacists spent performing daily auditing activities, how many of the targeted interventions had been implemented, what improvements had taken place and what the impact on individual hospital antibiotic consumption had been.

You may also want to refer to the BCT checklist from Week 5 which is available as a PDF below.