Doctors’ perceptions of antimicrobial resistance in the Northern West Bank, Palestine: a qualitative study

Objectives: In the West Bank, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly and alarmingly common. Efforts are being made to introduce antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). This study explores doctors’ perceptions of AMR and context-specific barriers and facilitators to ASPs at a critical point in national ASP development.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 doctors working in primary healthcare, government and non-governmental hospitals in Nablus in 2019. Two researchers thematically analysed the data.
Results: Participants recognized antibiotic resistance as a major threat to health. Few felt that doctors were well informed about ASPs; many had not heard of them. However, there was willingness to expand and begin new education programmes. Barriers and facilitators to ASPs included: (i) doctors were perceived to ‘misuse’ antibiotics, lack awareness, favour short-term outcomes, and externalize blame; (ii) patients reportedly treat antibiotics ‘like analgesia’ with high expectations of doctors; (iii) resource limitations make ASPs and infection control difficult—a lack of drugs, laboratory services, infectious disease specialists, and research to develop local guidelines; and (iv) top-down policy is recommended to restrict access to antibiotics without a prescription, but should be coupled with support, collaboration and community action.
Conclusions: Doctors’ appreciation of the severity of the issue, and willingness for the expansion of existing programmes targeted at their own prescribing practices, provides a strong foundation for successful ASPs. A top-down approach to prevent inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is welcomed by participating doctors. If financial and resource limitations could be addressed, a continued multifaceted approach may enable physician, pharmacist and patient behaviours to change.