Objectives: Currently, there is an urgent need to implement an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) in outpatient settings since nearly half of the antibiotic prescribing is inappropriate or unnecessary. The implementation of ASP should emphasize educational interventions that are more interactive. This study examines the adoption of outpatient ASP by physicians in Jordan.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2 March 2022 and 20 May 2022 at major hospitals in Jordan. The survey was distributed randomly among (n = 187) Jordanian physicians.
Results: It was found that more than half of the physicians were females (51.9%). The participants who reported not including antibiotic stewardship-related duties in position descriptions were (40.1%). While (46.5%) of participants reported writing and displaying public commitments supporting antibiotic stewardship in ambulatory care settings. Physicians' adoption of (action) core elements of ASPs in ambulatory care settings was positive. Almost (24.6%) reported a lack of self-evaluation of their antibiotic-prescribing practices. It was reported that (69.5%) of physicians used effective communication strategies to educate patients about when antibiotics are necessary.
Conclusion: It was fair adoption of the core elements in the ambulatory care settings among Jordanian physicians. Progress necessitates a comprehensive strategy tailored to the needs of the health system.
Keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship; Jordan; adoption; core elements; outpatient settings.