Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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Use of Accelerated Laboratory Evaluation by Extended Nurse
Prescribers: A tool to improve practice?
Marie Cameron, MSc, R.N.T., PG Cert (HELT), BSc(Hons), R.G.N.
The Robert Gordon University
Faculty of Health and Social Care
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Garthdee Road
ABERDEEN
AB10 7QG
Tel: +44 (0)1224 262918
Fax: +44 (0)1224 262630
Email: m.cameron-n@rgu.ac.uk
Bacground – Because of the link between inappropriate antibiotic
prescribing and antibiotic resistance, several strategies have been
implemented to decrease inappropriate prescribing and improve
prescribing practices. As 80% of antibiotic prescribing takes place
in primary care, this area has often been the focus of these
attempts. An example of such a strategy is the Accelerated
Bacteriological Laboratory Evaluation (ABLE) service in Grampian,
which provides an overnight microbiology results service.
Aim - To describe the knowledge and use of the Accelerated
Bacteriological Laboratory Evaluation (ABLE) service by Extended
Nurse Prescribers in Grampian (UK).
Methodology – Quantitative - Anonymous, self-completed, postal
questionnaire of all regional Extended Nurse Prescribers, informed
by a preliminary content-setting focus group.
Analysis – Descriptive statistics (thematic analysis of focus group).
Key Findings – Response rate was 74% (35/47) and 57% (20) of
respondents were practice nurses. Eighty nine percent (31) of
respondents knew about the ABLE service, and 88% (30) had used
it, with 73% (22) using it often. Over half of respondents (55%)
stated that they had insufficient information to allow them to make
best use of the service. The main barrier to ABLE use was difficulty
accessing results (50%/6). The main motivator for ABLE use was
the desire to prescribe the correct antibiotic (71%/17).
Conclusions – Although the majority of respondents were aware of
the ABLE service and have used it, more information at more
regular intervals is needed to encourage maximal use.
Respondents were more likely to use the service for some
conditions than others. Inclusion of information about ABLE in the
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