Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol

Introduction Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an innovative approach to manage infections that require extended courses of intravenous antibiotics by enabling patients to receive treatment in an outpatient setting. In Malaysia, there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of the...

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Main Authors: Nor Arisah Misnan, Audrey Huili Lim, Norazida Ab Rahman, Afra Nahdia Marizan Nor, Peter Seah Keng Tok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e100292.full
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author Nor Arisah Misnan
Audrey Huili Lim
Norazida Ab Rahman
Afra Nahdia Marizan Nor
Peter Seah Keng Tok
author_facet Nor Arisah Misnan
Audrey Huili Lim
Norazida Ab Rahman
Afra Nahdia Marizan Nor
Peter Seah Keng Tok
author_sort Nor Arisah Misnan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an innovative approach to manage infections that require extended courses of intravenous antibiotics by enabling patients to receive treatment in an outpatient setting. In Malaysia, there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of the OPAT service. This study aims to describe the safety, clinical indications and treatment outcomes of the OPAT service in Malaysia, assess patients’ satisfaction and experiences and determine the facilitators and barriers associated with the provision of the OPAT service in Malaysia.Methods and analysis A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods will be employed for a comprehensive understanding of the provision of the OPAT service in Malaysian public hospitals. The study consists of four distinct parts: systematic review, retrospective cohort analysis of clinical outcomes, patients’ satisfaction survey and focus group discussions on providers’ experiences. A longitudinal analysis of the clinical outcomes (treatment success/failure, infection cure, adverse events, readmission and mortality) of the OPAT patients’ cohort will be conducted using descriptive and conclusive statistics, in addition to rates of patients’ satisfaction and evaluation of providers’ experiences.Ethics and dissemination This study is registered in the National Medical Research Register (NMRR ID-24-00941-2C8) and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia (Ref: 24-00941-2C8). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences.
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spelling doaj-art-7abd95e928044366b9d3a2f6fea4b1d72025-08-20T03:27:01ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-06-0115610.1136/bmjopen-2025-100292Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocolNor Arisah Misnan0Audrey Huili Lim1Norazida Ab Rahman2Afra Nahdia Marizan Nor3Peter Seah Keng Tok4Medical Department, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh, MalaysiaInstitute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, MalaysiaInstitute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, MalaysiaPharmacy Department, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh, MalaysiaInstitute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, MalaysiaIntroduction Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an innovative approach to manage infections that require extended courses of intravenous antibiotics by enabling patients to receive treatment in an outpatient setting. In Malaysia, there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of the OPAT service. This study aims to describe the safety, clinical indications and treatment outcomes of the OPAT service in Malaysia, assess patients’ satisfaction and experiences and determine the facilitators and barriers associated with the provision of the OPAT service in Malaysia.Methods and analysis A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods will be employed for a comprehensive understanding of the provision of the OPAT service in Malaysian public hospitals. The study consists of four distinct parts: systematic review, retrospective cohort analysis of clinical outcomes, patients’ satisfaction survey and focus group discussions on providers’ experiences. A longitudinal analysis of the clinical outcomes (treatment success/failure, infection cure, adverse events, readmission and mortality) of the OPAT patients’ cohort will be conducted using descriptive and conclusive statistics, in addition to rates of patients’ satisfaction and evaluation of providers’ experiences.Ethics and dissemination This study is registered in the National Medical Research Register (NMRR ID-24-00941-2C8) and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia (Ref: 24-00941-2C8). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e100292.full
spellingShingle Nor Arisah Misnan
Audrey Huili Lim
Norazida Ab Rahman
Afra Nahdia Marizan Nor
Peter Seah Keng Tok
Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
BMJ Open
title Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
title_full Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
title_fullStr Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
title_short Evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service in Malaysian public hospitals: a mixed-methods study protocol
title_sort evaluation of the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy opat service in malaysian public hospitals a mixed methods study protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e100292.full
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