Helping primary care professionals to target the use of antibiotics to reduce antimicrobial resistance

Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
1 hour
TARGET Antibiotics – Prescribing in Primary Care
Discover ideas about how to optimise prescribing in Primary Care
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem and everyone can play a part in tackling this issue.
This course will look at many aspects of antibiotic prescribing in Primary Care from prescribing for urinary tract infections through to managing patient expectations.
By the end of the course you will have an understanding of how to apply practical antimicrobial stewardship strategies in your practice.
Syllabus
Week 1
Welcome and Introduction
Introduction to Week 1
Welcome to this course which explores antibiotic usage in GP practice. Here we will share with you the learning outcomes for the entire course.
Data Sources for Primary Care
We will look at resources that you can use to monitor antibiotic usage in your own region and practice. We will also demonstrate the success of audits to monitor changes in practice, and provide links to useful tools.
Using Local Data
We will discuss ways in which your practice can work with your local prescribing adviser to find ways to audit and improve antibiotic stewardship.
Practical Steps in Primary Care
We will learn about steps taken by a GP practice to improve antibiotic stewardship including conducting practice audits.
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing Week 1 of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions, and we look forward to seeing you again next week.
Week 2
Prescribing in UTIs
Introduction to Week 2
Welcome to the second week of the TARGET antibiotics course where we will we consider the real world presentation of patients with a UTI.
Current Situation in Primary Care
In this section we will examine the real world presentation of patients with a UTI and discuss some of the current options available to healthcare professionals
Diagnosis and Treatment of UTI
In this section we will examine the accurate diagnosis and selection of appropriate antibiotic for UTI .
Higher Risk Patients with UTI and Antibiotic Resistance
In this section we will examine patients and situations where a risk of a UTI is higher than average.
Practice Resources and Audit
In this section we will examine useful resources to help GP practices and audit tools to monitor progress.
Summary of Week 2 and Action Plan
This section will provide an opportunity to review this week's learning on the management of UTIs. You can also download an action plan template for future use.
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing Week 2 of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions, and we look forward to seeing you again next week.
Week 3
Assessing the Need for Antibiotics
Introduction to Week 3
Welcome to the third week of the TARGET antibiotics course where we will be assessing the real world need for antibiotics.
The Resistance Crisis and why GP Prescribing Matters
In this section you will be introduced to the global antibiotic resistance crisis and the relevance of this to primary care practice.
Why Prescribe Antibiotics for Respiratory Tract Infections
In this section we discuss the reasons for prescribing antibiotics for respiratory tract infections.
Management of Sore Throat and the Development of the FeverPAIN Score
In this section we focus on the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of antibiotics for sore throat.
Summary of Week 3 and Action Plan
This section will provide an opportunity to review this week's learning on Assessing the Need for Antibiotics. You can also download an action plan template for future use.
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing Week 3 of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions, and we look forward to seeing you again next week.
Week 4
Managing Patient Expectations and Back up/Delayed Prescriptions
Introduction to Week 4
Welcome to the fourth week of the TARGET antibiotics course where we will we consider the real world management of patient expectations and back up prescriptions.
Ways of Talking to Patients and Addressing Their Needs
In this section we will look at different dialogue with patients and uncover ways of communicating that will be beneficial regarding the need for antibiotics.
Ways of Discussing Diagnosis and Treatment
It is often difficult to explain to patients why an antibiotic may not be the best option for a patient. In this section we observe an example consultation.
Back up/Delayed Prescribing - Introduction and how to do it
In this section we will consider the importance of antibiotics and the evidence around back up/delayed prescribing.
Back up/Delayed Prescribing - Effectiveness and Concerns
In this section we discuss and compare back up/delayed antibiotic prescribing with immediate antibiotics, and the benefits involved.
Summary of Week 4 and Action Plan
This section will provide an opportunity to review this week's learning on Managing Patient Expectations and Back Up Prescriptions. You can also download an action plan template for future use.
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing Week 4 of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions, and we look forward to seeing you again next week.
Week 5
Antibiotics for Children
Introduction to Week 5
Welcome to the fifth week of the TARGET antibiotics course where we will we will look at the importance of correctly prescribing antibiotics for children.
Antibiotic Stewardship in Children
In this section we will look at the presentation of a child with symptoms of infection and discuss the role of antibiotic stewardship.
What Patients Want From a Cinician
This animation was developed by University of Bristol Centre for Academic Primary Care in conjunction with the RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) and NIHR (National Institute for Health Research.
Development of the STARWAVe Tool & Use in General Practice
The STARWAVe tool was developed by the team at Bristol and highlights the seven signs and symptoms that are prognostic risk factors for the development of an infection in children.
Summary of Week 5 and Action Plan
This section will provide an opportunity to review this week's learning on Antibiotics for Children. You can also download an action plan template for future use.
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing Week 5 of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions, and we look forward to seeing you again next week.
Week 6
Common Practice Approach
Introduction to Week 6
Welcome to the final week of the TARGET antibiotics course where we will consider a common practice approach to antibiotic prescribing.
Introduction to a Common Practice Approach
In this section we look at at example of successful implementation of antibiotic stewardship through a multi-discipline approach.
A Practice Nurse and Practice Manager's Perspective on the Common Practice Approach
In this section we look at different perspectives on the Common Practice Approach focusing on the importance of both a consistent message and the implementation of the programme as a whole.
Summary of Week 6 and Action Plan
This section will provide you with a link to watch the full 'Common Practice Approach' video which was part of the PHE TARGET webinar series. You can also download an action plan template for future use.
TARGET Evaluations and Conclusion
TARGET Evaluations and Conclusion
Test Your Knowledge
Well done on finishing the final week of TARGET Antibiotics - Prescribing in Primary Care. To consolidate your learning please answer the following questions.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore data sources to understand your practice antibiotic usage and tips for conducting an audit
- Improve prescribing practice for patients with suspected Urinary Tract Infections
- Discuss ways to manage patient expectations with regard to antibiotic prescriptions
- Identify ways in which back up prescribing can assist your practice
- Evaluate approaches to the prescribing of antibiotics for children
- Demonstrate the value of a whole team approach to antimicrobial stewardship
- Assess the importance of antimicrobial stewardship
Who is the course for?
This course is aimed at primary care healthcare professionals who are involved in the treatment of common infections.
Who will you learn with?
Clinical microbiologist, Head of Public Health England Primary Care & Interventions Unit. Published an abundance of research around the areas of antimicrobial resistance and is heavily cited.
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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