Evaluation of a regional information campaign on the appropriate use of antibiotics: a prospective controlled study

Study identification

• EU PAS number:
  EUPAS7901
• Study ID:
  7902
• Official title and acronym:
  Evaluation of a regional information campaign on the appropriate use of antibiotics: a prospective controlled study
• DARWIN EU® study:
  No
• Study countries:
  Italy
• Study description:
  An information campaign aimed at reducing antibiotic prescribing is going to be implemented in Emilia-Romagna, a region in Northern Italy with about 4,400,000 inhabitants, in December 2014. The campaign messages have been designed to increase awareness of the potential threats of unnecessary use of antibiotics. The active collaboration of doctors and pharmacists is expected to enhance the transfer of the campaign key messages to the general population, eventually reducing people's requests of antibiotic prescribing and influencing prescribers' attitudes as well.Leaflets, posters and (where the facilities exist) a short video will be available in waiting rooms of surgeries, in general practice as well as in hospitals and outpatients clinics, and in pharmacies across all the Emilia-Romagna Region. The primary outcome will be the average prescribing rate of antibiotics (J01C, J01D, J01F, J01M, J01XA codes of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System) to outpatients during the five-month period after the campaign start, expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants/day. Changes in the prescribing rate of antibiotics in Emilia-Romagna (vs the same period of the previous year) will be assessed and compared to prescribing changes in the rest of Italy and in groups of regions defined by quartiles of prescription rates, taking the possible implementation of specific policies on antibiotics in other regions into account.
• Study status:
  Ongoing

Research institutions and networks

Institutions

Emilia-Romagna Health and Social Agency (ASSR Emilia-Romagna)

Italy

Study timelines

Date when funding contract was signed

Planned:01/09/2014

Actual:01/09/2014

Study start date

Planned:01/12/2014

Actual:01/12/2014

Date of final study report

Planned:30/06/2016

Sources of funding

Other

More details on funding

ASSR Emilia-Romagna

Regulatory

• Was the study required by a regulatory body?:
  No