{
  "id": 3841869,
  "title": "Adherence to smartphone-delivered antimicrobial prescribing guidelines in hospitals in Lao PDR: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/adherence-to-smartphone-delivered-antimicrobial-prescribing",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-27T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PLOS Medicine",
    "slug": "plos-medicine",
    "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1005205"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent study conducted in Laos, researchers explored the effectiveness of smartphone-delivered antimicrobial prescribing guidelines compared to traditional paper-based guidelines. The trial, a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial, took place from 2021 to 2022 in six hospitals across the country. The primary goal was to assess whether the smartphone application-based intervention, combined with antimicrobial stewardship training, would lead to improved adherence to prescribing guidelines.\n\nThe study enrolled 3,561 hospitalized patient prescriptions and 1,940 outpatient prescriptions. Overall, guideline adherence was found to be relatively low, at 17.0% among hospitalized patients in the reference group and 25.6% in the intervention group. However, when accounting for various factors and confounders, the researchers did not find a significant difference in adherence between the two guideline delivery modes (adjusted odds ratio of 1.26).\n\nFurthermore, the study examined outpatient adherence and discovered that it varied depending on the timing of intervention introduction. Hospitals exposed to the smartphone app and AMS training earlier in the trial showed higher odds of adherence (32.1% in the first group and 19.1% in the last group). Despite these findings, the trial did not conclusively demonstrate that the smartphone app and associated training significantly improved adherence to antimicrobial prescribing guidelines compared to the use of paper-based guidelines.\n\nThis research highlights the potential of smartphone technology in delivering antimicrobial prescribing guidelines in low- and middle-income countries, such as Laos. However, the study also underscores the importance of recognizing that adherence to guidelines depends on various factors beyond just the availability of guidelines. These factors may include healthcare provider behavior, patient education, and the overall healthcare system. The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04914793).",
  "summary": "by Vilada Chansamouth, Danoy Chommanam, Sue J. Lee, Susath Vongphachanh, Manivanh Vongsouvath, Sommay Keomany, Viladeth Paphasiri, Chanthala Phamisith, Siho Sengsavang, Phouvieng Douangdala, Khamsay Detleuxay, Sommana Rattana, Bandith Soumphonphakdy, Valy Keoluangkhot, Mavuto Mukaka, Nicholas P. J. Day, H. Rogier van Doorn, Paul Turner, Mayfong Mayxay, Paul N. Newton, Elizabeth A. Ashley…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}