The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing a guideline on ‘Antimicrobial resistance: changing risk-related behaviours in the general population’. An evidence review is being conducted to address the key questions that are set out in the scope. This will focus on public education about the importance of using antimicrobials correctly, the dangers associated with their overuse and misuse and changes in behaviour that can avert the problems associated with the misuse of antimicrobials, such as infection prevention and control measures.

The final scope for this guidance can be found here http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-phg89/documents

We would like to receive details of grey literature and unpublished evaluation studies that provide evidence that relates to the questions below (taken from the scope):

Question 1: Which educational interventions are effective and cost effective in changing the public’s behaviour to ensure they only ask for antimicrobials when appropriate and use them correctly?

Expected outcomes

Changes in:

• knowledge and awareness of when, why and how antimicrobials should be used
• knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial resistance
• knowledge of the type of support people can expect from health professionals in relation to the use of antimicrobials
• the ability and confidence of prescribers and dispensers to talk to people about the use and misuse of antimicrobials
• demand for antimicrobials (particularly antibiotics)
• adherence to prescribed antimicrobials
• inappropriate antimicrobial use
• inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing by healthcare professionals.

Question 2: Which educational interventions are effective and cost effective in changing the public’s behaviour to prevent infection and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance?

Expected outcomes

Changes in:

• people’s knowledge and awareness of how they can prevent infection and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistant microbes
• hand-washing behaviour
• behaviour to reduce the spread of airborne diseases such as TB and flu (for example, use and appropriate disposal of tissues when coughing and sneezing)
• food hygiene practices.

We are interested in identifying unpublished evaluations conducted since 2001 or any on-going research that is being conducted that relates to the review questions outlined above. We are interested in a broad range of different types of evidence. It may be quantitative or qualitative research. The evidence we are seeking is grey literature/unpublished evaluations, working papers, white papers, expert papers and other forms of appraisals. We are not seeking articles published in journals as these will be identified through the evidence review described above.

Please note that we are not able to accept the following material:

• Promotional material.
• Unsubstantiated or non-evidence-based assertions of effectiveness.
• Opinion pieces or editorial review
• Potentially unlawful or other inappropriate information
• Attachments of published material or hard copy of published material
• Material not available in English

Unpublished material

If you are aware of ongoing trials/research relevant to our questions which are in progress please could you help us to identify that information by providing relevant information such as a link to a registered trial with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Clinical Trials) http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/cochrane_clcentral_articles_fs.html or, please could you provide details, for example: study title and contact details for the lead investigator.

If you wish to submit academic in confidence material i.e. written but not yet published, or commercial in confidence i.e. internal documentation, please underline the information. Information that is submitted under ‘commercial in confidence’ should also be highlighted in turquoise; information submitted under ‘academic in confidence’ should be highlighted in yellow.

If you wish to submit other forms of unpublished evaluations i.e. theses, technical reports, papers or other documents providing quantitative or qualitative evidence on the review questions outlined above please could you provide details, for example: study/report title and contact details for the lead author.

Please send using this form any relevant evidence details by 5pm on Wednesday 19 November 2014 to antimicrobial@nice.org.uk     

We look forward to receiving information on this and thank you in advance for your help.