-
A questionnaire
will assess the health care systems in the participating countries,
the availability of data on antibiotic use and expenditures
in hospitals as well as the current sources of information on
antibiotic consumption data in each participating country.
-
From the information
obtained, a protocol will be developed for a pilot study to
collect and collate data on antibiotic consumption within the
Mediterranean partners. The project will focus mainly on systemic
antibiotics used in hospital settings in the participating countries.
-
A period of data
collection will then be undertaken, the length of which depends
on the results of the initial questionnaires. The co-ordinating
centre will be responsible for the validation of the data gathered
during the pilot period, using the template provided by the
lead contractor and submission to the lead package contractor
for further validation and analysis between month 15 and 18,
in accordance with the method of validation and analysis used
in the ESAC project.
-
An analysis of the
pilot project will be held and a final protocol for prospective
data collection will be adopted. This will then be followed
by a period of 18 months dedicated to the prospective collection
of antibiotic consumption data.
-
Data flow and management
will follow the same protocol as indicated for the pilot study.
The results of the ARMed-ESAC analysis will be distributed to
the participant countries as well as posted in the ARMed website
by the co-ordinator.
-
Comparison of data
gathered from the Mediterranean partner countries with similarly
collected data from the ESAC study will be undertaken. A report
will be prepared to coincide with the presentation of the data
at the final meeting in month 48.
-
A study to quantify
and assess the degree of self-medication, including the consumption
of OTC antibiotics and leftovers from prescribed antibiotics
will be undertaken.
