Consensus-based antimicrobial resistance and stewardship competencies for UK undergraduate medical students.

Carolyn Hemsley ,Paul Collini ,Christopher N Penfold ,Riina Rautemaa‐Richardson ,Molly Courtenay ,Afshan Ahmad ,Matthew K O’shea ,Nicholas M Brown ,Bethany Davies ,David Ashley Price ,Marina Basarab ,Ciaran O’gorman ,Andrew Kirby ,David Mcmaster ,Sanjay Patel ,Owen Seddon ,Mahableshwar Albur ,Gavin Barlow ,Geraint Davies ,Felicia H Lim ,Catherine Santucci ,Angharad Davies

doi:10.1093/jacamr/dlaa096

Abstract

BackgroundIn the UK there is limited coverage of antimicrobial stewardship across postgraduate curricula and evidence that final year medical students have insufficient and inconsistent antimicrobial stewardship teaching. A national undergraduate curriculum for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship is required to standardize an adequate level of understanding for all future doctors.ObjectivesTo provide a UK national consensus on competencies for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship for undergraduate medical education.MethodsUsing the modified Delphi method over two online survey rounds, an expert panel comprising leads for infection teaching from 25 UK medical schools reviewed competency descriptors for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship education.ResultsThere was a response rate of 100% with all 28 experts who agreed to take part completing both survey rounds. Following the first-round survey, of the initial 55 descriptors, 43 reached consensus (78%). The second-round survey included the 12 descriptors from the first round in which agreement had not been reached, four amended descriptors and 12 new descriptors following qualitative feedback from the panel members. Following the second-round survey, a total of 58 consensus-based competency descriptors within six overarching domains were identified.ConclusionsThe consensus-based competency descriptors defined here can be used to inform standards, design curricula, develop assessment tools and direct UK undergraduate medical education.

Highlights

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to the future of healthcare.[1]
We have identified 58 competency descriptors within six domains that have reached expert consensus by a group representing UK medical schools from England, Wales and Northern Ireland
ConclusionThe consensus-based competency descriptors defined here can be used to inform standards, design curricula, develop assessment tools and direct UK undergraduate medical education

Summary

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to the future of healthcare.[1]. In the UK there is inadequate coverage of AMS across the majority of postgraduate clinical training curricula, including specialities responsible for the largest volumes of antimicrobial usage (e.g. primary care) and hospital specialities which have high rates of broad spectrum antimicrobial use and healthcare-associated infections.[5] The UK Foundation Programme curriculum, General Medical Council outcomes for graduates and the recently produced Royal College of Pathologists undergraduate curriculum are helpful guidance, but are unable to address AMR/S in sufficient detail to guide educators or standardize competencies.[6,7,8]. A national undergraduate curriculum for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship is required to standardize an adequate level of understanding for all future doctors

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