Background

Prior to implementing an antibiotic stewardship intervention for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), we assessed institutional barriers to change using the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment.

Methods

Surveys were self-administered on paper in inpatient medicine and long-term care units at 4 Veterans Affairs facilities. Participants included providers, nurses, and pharmacists. The survey included 7 subscales: evidence (perceived strength of evidence) and six context subscales (favorability of organizational context). Responses were scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale.

Results

One hundred four surveys were completed (response rate = 69.3%). Overall, the evidence subscale had the highest score; the resources subscale (mean 2.8) was significantly lower than other subscales (P < .001). Scores for budget and staffing resources were lower than scores for training and facility resources (P < .001 for both). Pharmacists had lower scores than providers for the staff culture subscale (P = .04). The site with the lowest scores for resources (mean 2.4) also had lower scores for leadership and lower pharmacist effort devoted to stewardship.

Conclusions

Although healthcare professionals endorsed the evidence about nontreatment of ASB, perceived barriers to antibiotic stewardship included inadequate resources and leadership support. These findings provide targets for tailoring the stewardship intervention to maximize success.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevented premature mortality and improved the quality of life among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH), such that now more than half of PLWH in the United States are 50 years of age and older. Increased longevity among PLWH has resulted in a significant rise in chronic, comorbid diseases. However, the implementation of guideline-based interventions for preventing, treating, and managing such age-related, chronic conditions among the HIV population is lacking. The PRECluDE consortium supported by the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute catalyzes implementation research on proven-effective interventions for co-occurring heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases and conditions among PLWH. These collaborative research studies use novel implementation frameworks with HIV, mental health, cardiovascular, and pulmonary care to advance comprehensive HIV and chronic disease healthcare in a variety of settings and among diverse populations.