A mixed methods study of the barriers and enablers in implementing antimicrobial stewardship programmes in Australian regional and rural hospitals

Objectives: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released recommendations for antimicrobial stewardship programmes to be established within all Australian healthcare facilities. However, implementation practices are not well defined. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of factors affecting implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes within Australian regional and rural hospitals.

Methods: This study was designed whereby a preliminary quantitative process was used to contribute to a principally qualitative study. Site visits to regional and rural hospitals in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were planned to assess factors impacting on implementation of antimicrobial stewardship. Subsequently researchers identified issues requiring further exploration with specific key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Data were collected between May and October 2012 and entered into Nvivo10, openly coded and analysed according to mixed methods data analysis principles.

Results: Regional and rural hospitals were not conducting many of the recommended activities and seven major themes emerged. The key barriers were perceived to be lack of access to education, resources and specialist support. The enablers were a flatter governance structure, greater sense of pride, desire for success and good internet and tele-health access.

Conclusions: This study helps us to identify where efforts should be focused to facilitate the establishment of antimicrobial stewardship programmes in regional and rural hospitals, by describing the gaps and limitations of current programmes and the major issues currently being faced, providing recommendations to better guide activities that support regional and rural hospitals.