title: The effect of an educational intervention on the use of peri-operative antimicrobial agents.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on the prescribing behaviour of doctors who order antimicrobial therapy for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Two confidential criterion audits were separated by the intervention which involved completion of a 10-item questionnaire followed by a fully referenced answer sheet. The results showed a significant improvement in the prescribing habits of the junior surgical staff after the educational intervention. The overall error rate decreased from 50% to 20% (P = 0.003).
authors.affiliation: Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011292:Premedication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents