Spanish adaptation of the Start Smart-Then Focus tool for optimizing the use of antimicrobials

Abstract

Objective: The Start Smart-Then Focus tool of the United Kingdom’s National Health System is a tool to be implemented in antimicrobial stewardship programs. The objective of this work is the adaptation of Start Smart-Then Focus tool to the Spanish health system.Method: Delphi methodology was used. Two rounds were conducted by email. In the first, a questionnaire was sent out that included the criteria of the tool. These criteria were independently assessed by 16 experts. They rated the suitability and applicability of each criterion on a scale from 1 to 9 and made free comments on each one. The tool was modified and sent out again to all the experts. They re-scored the questionnaire individually, while aware of the anonymized results of the first round.Results: The first questionnaire was made up of 19 indicators. Of these, 16 indicators had a median of more than 7 in suitability and applicability. However, regarding applicability, 3 indicators had a median of less than 7 and 10 had a minimum of less than 5. From the initial 19 indicators, we obtained 8 final indicators and 8 options were added to the sixth indicator.Conclusions: It would be very useful to implement the Spanish adaptation of the Start Smart-Then Focus tool in antimicrobial stewardship programs at a national level. It would also contribute to improving the use of antimicrobials.

Keywords

• antimicrobial stewardship
• anti-infective agents
• drug resistance
• drug utilization
• quality indicators
• health care