Enhancing Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Focus Group Discussion Utilizing COM-B Targets and Behavior Change Wheel
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health challenge and is a growing concern in Malawi, where previous focus group discussions have revealed that knowledge gaps, limited resources, and patient preference all contribute to AMR. This study aimed to explore perceptions, barriers, and facilitators related to antimicrobial use and stewardship among healthcare professionals utilizing the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model and Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) to identify strategies for behavior change in the prescribing, dispensing, and administration process. The focus group discussion was conducted within six hospitals in Malawi, including seventy-nine healthcare professionals involved in antimicrobial prescribing and administration. Transcripts of these focus group discussions were analyzed using thematic coding, with emergent themes mapped to COM-B domains to identify common factors driving antimicrobial prescribing. Insights from this COM-B guided analysis were then applied to the BCW framework to identify potential intervention functions targeting key determinants of behavior. Although analysis is ongoing, the study is expected to identify consistent barriers across the hospitals, including limited training, resource constraints, a lack of microbiology testing, and social and professional norms that influence prescribing practices. Facilitators of appropriate antimicrobial use are also anticipated to emerge. These findings are expected to inform the development of targeted, context-appropriate antimicrobial stewardship interventions and provide actionable recommendations to support behavior change and improve antimicrobial use in resource-limited healthcare settings in Malawi.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 12:00 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
45
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Emily Flores
Enhancing Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Focus Group Discussion Utilizing COM-B Targets and Behavior Change Wheel
Culp Ballroom 316
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health challenge and is a growing concern in Malawi, where previous focus group discussions have revealed that knowledge gaps, limited resources, and patient preference all contribute to AMR. This study aimed to explore perceptions, barriers, and facilitators related to antimicrobial use and stewardship among healthcare professionals utilizing the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model and Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) to identify strategies for behavior change in the prescribing, dispensing, and administration process. The focus group discussion was conducted within six hospitals in Malawi, including seventy-nine healthcare professionals involved in antimicrobial prescribing and administration. Transcripts of these focus group discussions were analyzed using thematic coding, with emergent themes mapped to COM-B domains to identify common factors driving antimicrobial prescribing. Insights from this COM-B guided analysis were then applied to the BCW framework to identify potential intervention functions targeting key determinants of behavior. Although analysis is ongoing, the study is expected to identify consistent barriers across the hospitals, including limited training, resource constraints, a lack of microbiology testing, and social and professional norms that influence prescribing practices. Facilitators of appropriate antimicrobial use are also anticipated to emerge. These findings are expected to inform the development of targeted, context-appropriate antimicrobial stewardship interventions and provide actionable recommendations to support behavior change and improve antimicrobial use in resource-limited healthcare settings in Malawi.
