This document outlines a project to engage civil society organizations in Malaysia to help manage antibiotic resistance through education and social mobilization. The project aims to develop educational materials, train community members, and collaborate with local health and government groups. An initial survey found gaps in antibiotic knowledge and misconceptions. Educational materials were created and training workshops were held to establish a team of community trainers. Future phases involve outreach activities and discussions to disseminate information and improve antibiotic stewardship.

1. SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
TOWARDS NATIONAL/REGIONAL POLICY PLATFORMS TO
MANAGE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE - ENGAGING CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS FOR SOCIAL MOBILIZATION, HEALTH
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Mr. Muhammad Sharrieffuddin Mohd. Jaki, BSc
Coordinator for ReAct Malaysia Community Project,
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Assoc. Prof Dr. Mohamed Azmi Hassali, PhD
Principal Investigator ReAcT Malaysia Community Project
Deputy Dean (Student Affairs and Networking)
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr. Fahad Saleem, PhD
ReAct Malaysia Community Project Liaison Officer
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia

2. Presentation Outline
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
–
–
–
–
Community Empowerment
Working Structure
Objectives
Phase 1
– Baseline Survey
– Educational Materials Development
– Phase 2
–
–
–
–
Project Launching
Training-of-the-Trainers Workshops
Collaborations
Focus Group Discussions

3. Community Empowerment
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• Public health education and awareness programs on the issue of
rational use of antibiotics & ABR
– Towards national/ regional policy platforms to manage antibiotic resistanceengaging civil society organizations for social mobilization, health education and
communication (ReAct-USM-Yayasan Bina Ilmu)
– Project Partners:
• Action on Antibiotic Resistance (ReAct), Uppsala University, Sweden
• Discipline of Social & Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Yayasan Bina Ilmu (P. Pinang) Ltd.
• 1Malaysia Community

4. Working Structure
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
ReAct
Discipline of Social
& Administrative
Pharmacy, USM
Dr. Fahad
Saleem
• Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Mohamed Azmi
• Muhammad
Sharrieffuddin
• Chua Gin Nie
Yayasan Bina Ilmu
P. Pinang Ltd.
Dato’ Abdul
Rashid
Ismail
Jalan Makloom
1Malaysia
Community
Haji Farook Sk. Mohamad
Established by the
Ministry of Communication
and Multimedia

5. Objectives
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• To catalyse uptake of antibiotic resistance on the agenda of civil
society organizations working in the areas of child health, education,
consumers rights, environment and women’s rights;
• To offer support and materials to these organizations to undertake
relevant work on antibiotic resistance in line with their focus areas;
• To engage civil society organizations as stakeholders in national and
regional policy platforms for antibiotic resistance;
• To link results to global civil society organizations working with
children’s and women’s health to address antibiotic resistance.

6. Phase 1
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• Project Activities
– Phase 1
1. Conduct Baseline Survey in each project site
regarding knowledge, attitudes, skills and
practices within the organization/ target groups
2. Adapt, translate and develop reading/ training
materials based on 1.

7. Baseline Survey
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• A pilot survey (n= 64) to assess the baseline knowledge
among community dwellers at Jelutong, Penang was carried
out from 18 to 20 of June 2012.
• Phase 1 Main findings:
– Recent use of antibiotic (in the past 3 months): Yes =
42.2%
– Sources of antibiotic:
• Prescribed: Yes = 92%
• Clinic without prescription: Yes = 2%
• Retail pharmacy: Yes = 17%
• Use someone else’s antibiotic: Yes = 2%

8. Baseline Survey
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• Main findings (cont’):
– Knowledge of antibiotic
• Role of antibiotic:
– For bacterial infection: Yes = 84%
– For viral infection: Yes = 21%
• Able to Identify antibiotic: Yes = 45%
• Dangers of antibiotic overuse:
– Can cause ABR: Yes = 64%
– Can cause allergic reaction: Yes = 61%
– Does not cause side effects: Yes = 55%

9. Baseline Survey
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
• Main Findings (Cont’)
– Attitudes towards antibiotic usage:
• Throw away antibiotic leftovers: Agree: 53%
• Follow doctor/pharmacist/label instructions: Agree: 98%
• Give antibiotic to other family members: Agree = 14%
• Believe antibiotic will help in recovery: Agree = 58%
• Stop taking when fully recovered: Agree = 55%
• Expect antibiotic to be prescribed whenever they go to
doctor: Agree = 77%
– Misconception about the use of antibiotics

10. SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Educational Materials
Development
• Development of educational materials based on local understanding
and needs
• Developed in English and validated for its accuracy. The material
was than translated as per protocols. Re-assessment in BM was
again conducted.
– Validation was done through independent
assessors with no involvement in the project.
The objective was to provide up-to-date,
accurate and rational information to the
trainers as well as community members.

11. Phase 2
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Project Activities
• Phase 2 (ongoing):
– One-day launch workshop to plan and strategize
outcomes, outputs and activities
– Training-of-the-trainers to develop a team of communitybased trainers
– Initiate activities to foster collaboration among civil society,
local health service providers and local government
agencies to address health issues.
– Focus group discussion with community members

12. Project Launching
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
The project was elaborated and explained to all stakeholders. The blue
prints of the project was presented and approved thereby. All players
were identified and activities were planned accordingly.

13. SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Training-of-the-Trainers
Workshops
Training started with a pre-assessment of current knowledge towards AB
and ABR. The training continued up to 6 hours. All issues regarding AB use
and ABR were thoroughly discussed. At the end of the training, a postassessment of the training was carried out. The session ended with post
training evaluation.

14. Collaborations
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Initiate activities to foster collaboration among civil society,
local health service providers and local government agencies
to address health issues.
– Objectives of the project and layout plan was described by the
moderator. Development of the training material and TOT sessions were
also discussed. The process of dissemination the information to the
community members was also planned out. Audience were
comprehensively informed about the progress of the project and the
future directions.

15. Collaborations
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES

16. Focus Group Discussion
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Focus Group Discussion with members of the community to discuss
project progress, strategies for future direction, supervision of
trainers, feedback from the community, re-strategize as per feedback
received.
For more info, visit: http://cso.reactgroup.org/

17. Thank You
SCHOOL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES
Contact:
Mohamed Azmi Hassali, PhD
Universiti Sains Malaysia
azmihassali@usm.my