OPEN

Out of hours Prescribing: Enhancing Communication

Start date: 1 April 2018
End date: 20 September 2020

Background and aims

The overuse of antibiotics in primary care is of increasing concern for health services across the globe. The NHS has been invested in reducing prescription rates of antibiotics. This research has focused on in-surgery prescribing rather than out-of-hours services. However, there is research to suggest that prescribing antibiotics is increasing in out-of-hours settings.

Research

The OPEN study recorded different types of out-of-hours consultations (telephone, primary care centre visits, home visits) conducted between prescribers (GPs, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics) and patient groups (parents/carers). The study has involved three organisations in the South and West of England.

The data collected from this study will be used to understand antibiotic prescribing patterns. The subsequent findings will be used to develop training for prescribers in how to talk with patients about antibiotics in ways that promote understanding and prudent prescribing practices.

The inter-disciplinary research team is made up of social scientists and academic GPs. Prof Fiona Stevenson led work package one, which was a realist informed scoping review of training and guidelines for health care professionals in relation to out-of-hours prescribing of antibiotics in the UK.

Findings

Analysis is ongoing.

Our team

Prof Fiona Stevenson, UCL

Collaborations

The study was conducted by four universities across the UK.

• University of Bristol
• UCL
• University of Oxford
• University of Southampton