Category: Projects

Rwanda tackles antimicrobial resistance through a pharmacy led campaign

Manjula H

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Rwanda

AMR is a growing global issue and internationally much AMR research and innovative work goes on. Following the success of the Innovative pharmacy solution to antimicrobial resistance in the UK by the Information Design and Architecture combating drug resistant infection (IDAPPS) project at University of Reading, there was an opportunity to explore how this approach could be taken to an international community.

A collaboration between the University of Reading, the University of Rwanda, the Rwanda Community Pharmacists Union (RCPU), the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA), Design Science and Isomeric was formed to explore how a design led approach to develop a campaign would change behaviours and attitudes towards AMR in Rwanda.

Pharmacy and health care access in Rwanda

Several workshops in Kigali Rwanda were held to better understand how just over 800 registered pharmacists serve a population of approximately 12.5million and dispense AMR advice. The broader insights of how doctors and community health workers support the community was imperative to ensure any campaign woudl bridge the gap and provide continuity of health care. The project team included designers, behavioural change consultants and pharmacists.

Workshops in Rwanda

The workshops were designed to engage with pharmacist, pharmacy users and other stakeholders. New models that fuelled creativity were introduced at the workshops led by designers and pharmacists. The co-design workshops were practical and interactive and the team came away with many ideas to progress within the context and constraints that were discussed.

Pilot study and pharmacist training

Initial pharmacy materials and a training plan were implemented, during this first phase, across several pharmacies reaching different populations.

Training pharmacists on the campaign materials

The next phase…

Following the success of the pilot phase the project team are developing the materials for a bigger launch reaching a wider population.
Analysis of pilot data, other research in Rwanda and a final workshop in the UK has led to more collaborations and new ideas.

Innovative pharmacy solution to antimicrobial resistance

Manjula H

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to a growing number of antibiotic resistant bacteria in humans.  Antibiotics are life saving medicines and changing attitudes and behaviours in AMR is fundamental in preserving the value they bring to our lives. The pharmacy environment provides an excellent opportunity to improve the knowledge and understanding of antimicrobial resistance.

Changing attitudes and behaviour in AMR

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Information Design and Architecture combating drug resistant infection (IDAPPS). IDDAPS is an inter-disciplinary project bringing together academics and practitioners in graphic and information design, architecture, ergonomics and human factors and pharmacy to consider how to ‘improve the knowledge and understanding of antimicrobial resistance’.

Designing persuasive pharmacy space

Design Science and partners developed the winning Beat Bad Bugs (BBB) campaign for IDAPPS. The BBB team are life-size characters each offering a perspective on antibiotic usage. This innovative approach also included various materials to support the pharmacy team at Day Lewis Reading branch.

The approach has been developed and tailored for pharmacies in other countries.

iSAID: Sources of Additional Information in Diabetes

Manjula H

Information about diabetes is readily available including online, in print, through healthcare professionals and the wider family and friends circle. Yet despite there being more medicines and information than ever before about managing diabetes, the number of people worldwide with type 2 diabetes in 2017 was nearly 425 million with an increase estimated to around 629 million by 2045 (International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas 8th edition 2017).

Managing diabetes is complex and involves many healthcare professionals and with rapidly growing technology to monitor and manage diabetes, adherence in type 2 diabetes is poor with approximately 7 out of 10 people behaving non-adherently.  

Why do sources of additional information matter?

Increasing adherence to medicine is more than just giving people information. Although providing the right information at the right time is important, who shares that information and how it’s shared are factors that impact and influence people about how they feel about their medicines and their condition.

How was the iSAID research conducted?

The research was focused on gathering insights through via focus group discussions, interviews and social media listening. Using behavioural science and established adherence models and frameworks the data was thematically analysed.

What did this research achieve?

The insights gathered were very interesting and informed how a larger programme was developed. Read the report for key findings.

isaid-report-2017Download