Views and experiences of volunteers for the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship Extension Programme

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health issue, which can be addressed through improved antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) knowledge and practice. The CwPAMS programme, launched in 2019, is funded by the UK aid Fleming Fund and managed by Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).1,2,3 It expanded in 2021 to support 14 health partnerships to enhance AMS capacity by leveraging UK expertise between the UK and 8 Commonwealth countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia. CwPAMS was supported by UK and LMIC volunteers. The aim of this study was to explore views and experiences of volunteers who took part in the CwPAMS Extension Programme. A cross-sectional survey was developed using Survey Monkey by CPA internal AMS experts and programme managers. The questions explored the key benefits to health organisations and professionals, including the development of AMS skills and competencies, barriers to AMS, and personal/professional development opportunities. Open-ended questions were included to gather further insights into volunteers' views and experiences of volunteering and participating in CwPAMS. The survey was emailed to the 14 health partnerships who took part in the CwPAMS programme between October 2021-May 2022 to be disseminated to all volunteers. Data were collected between 14 April-1 June 2022, transferred to Microsoft Excel and analysed thematically, with frequency counting where appropriate. As it was an internal CPA programme evaluation, no ethical approval was required. A total of 83 survey responses were received. The majority respondents were female (60%) and were pharmacists (54%). Volunteers recognised the programme’s positive impact on a personal/professional and organisational level, by fostering knowledge exchange and enhancing AMS practices. Amongst volunteers, 87% noted that their organisation had benefited through their participation in CwPAMS, with 72% stating they had increased AMS capacity in their team. Volunteers highlighted several areas where they applied their newly acquired skills and experiences from their participation in CwPAMS. The most frequently mentioned impactful areas were: 1) Leadership and project management: Volunteers reported improved competencies in establishing local expertise in AMS and infection management, strengthening stakeholder and partnership engagement and improved confidence in project leadership, monitoring, and evaluation. 2) Use of new tools (digital/virtual) for training and AMS use 3) Mentoring, teaching and sharing their knowledge and experiences to support others in their professional development. In addition, volunteers reported they had the opportunity to network and form international partnerships, fostering multidisciplinary collaborations. They also experienced personal development by acquiring leadership, communication, problem-solving, grant application writing, and project management skills. CwPAMS offers volunteers within health partnerships a distinct opportunity for personal and professional growth, while simultaneously improving AMS related healthcare practices in their organisations. We will continue to expand upon the achievements of the programme by enhancing volunteer experiences, such as the Africa Leadership Fellowship-AMS offering as part of CwPAMS 2, to upskill and enable pharmacists in LMICs to develop leadership roles. Additionally, we aim to strengthen the evaluation of CwPAMS to showcase its impact to the UK and LMICs, respectively. 1. Commonwealth Pharmacists Association – CwPAMS: Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship. Available at: https://commonwealthpharmacy.org/cwpams (accessed 3 June 2023). 2. Ashiru-Oredope D, Langford BJ, Bonaconsa C, et al. Global collaborations in antimicrobial stewardship: All hands on deck. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol, 2023; 3(1): e66. DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.122. 3. Brandish C, Garraghan F, Ng BY, et al. Assessing the Impact of a Global Health Fellowship on Pharmacists' Leadership Skills and Consideration of Benefits to the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9(7):890. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9070890.