title: Evaluation of the Do Bugs Need Drugs? program in British Columbia: Can we curb antibiotic prescribing?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antibiotic resistance is accelerated by the overuse of antibiotics. Do Bugs Need Drugs? is an educational program adapted in British Columbia to target both the public and health care professionals, with the aim of reducing unnecessary prescribing. The current article presents a descriptive evaluation of the impact of the program over the first four years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program implementation was measured by the amount of educational material distributed and the level of participation in educational sessions. The impact of the program was assessed by measuring changes in knowledge and prescribing habits of participating physicians, and by investigating provincial trends in antibiotic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 51,367 children, assisted-living residents and health care professionals have participated in the program since its inception in the fall of 2005. Pre- and postcourse assessments of participating physicians indicated significant improvements in clinical knowledge and appropriate antibiotic treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. Overall rates of antibiotic use in the province have stabilized since 2006. The rates of consumption of fluoroquinolones and macrolides have levelled off since 2005. Utilization rates for acute bronchitis are at the same level as when the program was first implemented, but rates for other acute upper respiratory tract infections of interest have declined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Do Bugs Need Drugs? program significantly improves physician antibiotic prescription decisions and is ecologically associated with desirable change in population antibiotic consumption patterns.
authors.affiliation: BC Centre for Disease Control;
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vrbova
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuertes
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Samara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dreher
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Purych
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blondel-Hill
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Fawziah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Perry Rw
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Patrick