PROBIOTICS AND ITS GASTRO-INTESTINAL PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS DURING ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY: A TRAINING FOR AMBULATORY CARE CLINIC PROVIDERS
PROBIOTICS AND ITS GASTRO-INTESTINAL PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS DURING ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY: A TRAINING FOR AMBULATORY CARE CLINIC PROVIDERS
Date
2022
Authors
Dubbs, Angela
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Tse, Alice
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Nursing
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ABSTRACTProblem. Antibiotic resistance is growing with the CDC describing it as one of the biggest public health challenges of our time (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). A major risk factor of developing antibiotic resistance is not completing the full course of antibiotic treatment. One identified cause of patients not completing the full course is the occurrence of antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD). The recent increase in research on probiotics has shown effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of AAD when taken concurrently with the antibiotics. The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPHICS) treats many infections with oral antibiotics. However, data shows scarce numbers of providers placing orders of probiotics with their antibiotic prescriptions. This illustrates a possible knowledge gap between providers within the VAPHICS and the most current research on the use of probiotics in the clincal setting.
Purpose. The purpose of this project was to increase the number of co-prescriptions of probiotics with antibiotics to potentially improve health outcomes through the delivery of evidence-based probiotic education.
Methods. A probiotic education session for providers was developed and disseminated. Effectiveness was measured by comparing the number of prescriptions of probiotics, antibiotics, and co-prescriptions of the two, over a three-month period prior to implementation against the same data post implementation. The in-service session was evaluated by a pre- and post-presentation questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude, and behavior of probiotic use.
Results. Data analysis showed no improvement in the number of co-prescriptions of probiotics with antibiotics. However, data illustrated a 41% increase in the number of probiotic prescriptions alone, after delivery of the in-service by the providers who attended. The providers’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior also improved in comparison of pre- and post-presentation questionnaires showing they felt more knowledgeable on the use of probiotics, its safety, and availability at the VA. After the presentation, providers felt that probiotics had a larger role in clinical medicine and were more likely to discuss the initiation of probiotics with their patients.
Discussion. The provision of probiotics with antibiotic prescriptions has shown to reduce the risk of AAD and may help to address the growing pandemic of antibiotic resistance. Providers who gain knowledge of probiotic use and benefits has the long-term implication of benefitting the health and wellbeing of patients.
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Nursing
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48 pages
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