Description:

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate antibiotic use in the outpatient setting is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Patients often lack knowledge about when antibiotics are needed, the importance of adherence, and potential side effects. Prescribers are frequently pressured to treat patients with antibiotics, which increases inappropriate use. Available Knowledge: Prior studies demonstrate that patient education can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and improve compliance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Be Antibiotics Aware handout (Appendix A) to enhance patient knowledge and support antimicrobial stewardship. Rationale: Providing patients with clear, evidence-based education at the time of prescribing may increase understanding and promote appropriate antibiotic use. Specific Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the CDC Be Antibiotics Aware handout in improving patient knowledge about antibiotic use in a rural urgent care setting. METHODS: A quality improvement project with a pretest–posttest design was implemented with adult patients (ages 18–65) who were prescribed antibiotics at a rural urgent care center. Participants completed a five-question pretest, received a CDC educational handout, and then completed the same questionnaire via telephone follow-up within 3–7 days. Pre- and posttest scores were compared to assess knowledge improvement. INTERVENTION: Distribution of the CDC Be Antibiotics Aware educational handout covering appropriate use, adherence, and side effects of antibiotics. RESULTS: Seventy patients participated in this project. Twenty-three (32.9%) could not be scored due to noncompliance with follow-up. Of the remaining, 20 (28.6%) showed no change, 6 (8.6%) scored lower, and 21 (30%) improved their posttest scores. CONCLUSION: The CDC handout demonstrated that 30 % of participants had an increase in knowledge, demonstrating its value as an educational tool. However, barriers to follow-up and mixed results suggest the need for supplemental strategies, such as digital or visual education, to strengthen patient understanding and engagement.