Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious and growing global health threat. Overusing antibiotics-especially when they aren't needed-is a key cause of AMR, which already contributes to over a million deaths worldwide each year. In Canada, up to half of the antibiotics prescribed in primary care may be unnecessary, leading to avoidable side effects, rising healthcare costs, and greater resistance. One proven solution is giving doctors feedback about their antibiotic prescribing habits, especially how they compare to peers. Research shows this "audit and feedback" approach helps reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. Studies in Ontario and worldwide have shown it can lower antibiotic use and it saves money-up to $9 for every $1 spent. Despite this strong evidence, most Canadian provinces and territories don't routinely offer prescribing feedback to family doctors. The CANBuild-AMR project, funded by CIHR, is working to change this by supporting and helping provinces implement antibiotic prescribing feedback programs. So far, 8 of 11 participating regions plan to launch such programs by 2026. To move from research to routine practice, CANBuild-AMR is submitting this proposal to hold a national knowledge-sharing event. This 1.5-day event will bring together scientists, policy makers, family doctors, patients, and veterinarians to discuss how to make antibiotic prescribing feedback part of regular healthcare quality improvement efforts. The event will focus on translating evidence into policy, understanding real-world challenges, and developing a national action plan. A key output will be a clear, accessible policy brief to guide governments. Ultimately, this work aims to improve patient care, save money, and slow the spread of drug-resistant infections-benefiting not only people, but also animals and the environment.