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Tuesday, 01/04/2011
The new European Grace Intro trial keeps on combating antimicrobial resistance
An online training package will help GPs improve both their communications skills towards patients and the use of an ambulatory device for detection of C-reactive protein.
The GRACE Intro (Internet Training for Reducing Antibiotic Use) trial has already started. This clinical trial has been promoted by Southampton University and it happens to be a highly comprehensive trial, including 8 participating networks from the UK, Spain, Belgium, Holland and Poland.
The aim of the trial is to proof the reduction of antibiotic prescribing in GPs who will have received a comprehensive online training. This training is based on communications skills, so that GPs can improve their communication with patients, and it’s also based on the use of an ambulatory device for detection of C-reactive protein.
Should previous results of a pilot trial carried out in Holland be confirmed, GRACE Intro could turn out to be a turning point when it comes to antibiotic prescribing of European GPs. Eventually, the trial could lead to a decrease of antibiotic over-prescribing and would help reducing bacterial resistance.
The Grace Inro trial started on late October and will last 6 months. However, it could be extended until 2012. There are 8 participating networks, two of which are Spanish: the Clinic network and the Semfyc network. In the Clinic network there are 4 NHS (Salut eixample-CAPSE, Manso NHS and two NHS from Mataró) and 38 GPs.