P12 Public antibiotic awareness campaign organised by government significantly reduced inappropriate antibiotic use in paediatric primary care settings

Abstract

Serbia, like most other countries in southern Europe, has struggled with high rate of antibiotic consumption. Previous results showed that most of antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately, mainly for influence - like illness 1 . The first short term media antibiotic awareness campaign (AAC) was held in 2011. and 2014. respectively. Shortly after, Ministry of Health, Republic of Serbia in November 2015 has started with public AAC simultaneously across all regions of Republic of Serbia. Apart from media, the campaign included education, producing national guidelines, as well as regulations. The education goals for public (preschool and school children, parents, pregnant women, students) and healthcare professionals (paediatricians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) was based on results of analysis of antibiotic consumption in children from 2007.to 2014. which methodology was published previously. 1 Media campaign included public relations activities, press conferences, billboards, printed materials, etc. In 2017. prescribing rates of antibiotics per 1000 children in primary care settings were decreased by 18% comparing to 2011., after first and by 12% comparing to 2014. when second short term media campaign was performed. After the third, government organised public AAC, prescribing rates of antibiotics per 1000 children in primary care settings were decreased by 6% for only one year (2017 vs. 2016) in all age groups from 2 months up to 17 years. Significant decrease of prescribed rate of antibiotics per 1000 children during 2017. was recorded for indication with policy of delayed or no antibiotic prescription recommended by guidelines. Seasonal oscillations showed that highest prescribing rate during the winter months (I and the IV quarter) of 2017. is in line with the lowest prescribing rate during the summer months (II and the III quarter) from 2007. up to 2013.We can conclude that continuous antibiotic awareness campaign supported by state government is the best way to achieve successful results.