Imperial College hosted the first joint Behaviour Change in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance.

On Friday 27^th November the HPRUs in HCAI and AMR from Imperial College and Oxford University came together with the HPRU in the Evaluation of Interventions at Bristol University to discuss their work on Behaviour Change in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance.  In addition to researchers from all of these units, the workshop was attended by our partners from  Public Health England’s Behavioural Insights team.

The teams exchanged information about their programme of work in behaviour change in this area through a series of interesting talks including:

• “ A&E attendance for children with fever and views on antibiotics”  - Sarah Tonkin-Crine,
• “The overuse of antibiotics: information, beliefs, and boomerang effects “- Larry Roope
• “Technologies in health literacy in AMR and HCAI” Enrique Castro-Sanchez,
• “Role and Limitations  of technology and diagnostics in antimicrobial prescribing” ( Luke Moore)  and “Qualitative research in acute care” – Esmita Charani

Those present also heard about “ Delivering antimicrobial stewardship decision support in primary care” (Monsey McLeod) PHE activities on behaviour change in antibiotics (Tim Chadborn)  and

Bristol HPRU plans for research in antibiotic prescribing and behaviour change (Susan Michie)

The highly successful event, which had its own twitter following, ended with the teams discussing potential synergies and collaborations.  Another follow up meeting is planned for next year as there is great potential for further collaboration and to identify and cover existing gaps in research from our units.