Stewards TTSH

01/12/2025

🔍 New Research Alert: 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

This quasi-experimental study conducted in four large adult emergency departments between January 2021 and December 2023 evaluated the effectiveness of physician feedback and patient education in reducing antibiotic prescribing for uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) that typically do not require antibiotics.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
• Physician feedback alone showed significant decline in the weekly antibiotic prescribing trend
• The patient education using health professional-developed information leaflets did not reduce antibiotic prescribing
• Weekly antibiotic prescribing trend increased during the post-intervention period indicating that the intervention effect is not sustained

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
Simple, systematic feedback and audit mechanisms can drive meaningful physician behaviour change. Further research into multimodal patient education approaches is warranted.

📙: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121196

Objectives: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is a significant problem in emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. In this study, we separately evaluated the effectiveness of physician feedback and patient education in reducing antibiotic prescri...

24/11/2025

As comes to an end, we are reminded that our work as researchers isn’t just about data — it’s about the people, places, and moments that shape our journey.

Check out our LinkedIn article below. 👇

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/blue-pill-vs-red-my-research-journey-stewardsttsh-9cyrc/?trackingId=33oAjsxFQdafJjLHvUJfEQ%3D%3D

Author: Goh Jedrek A couple of months ago, I was faced with a difficult decision that would redefine my understanding of antibiotic research. I could have stayed in the office to analyse survey data and compile weekly reports about antibiotic resistance – the blue pill of academic comfort that had...

20/11/2025

This year's theme is a powerful reminder that safeguarding our present and protecting future generations begins with strong evidence and collective action against AMR.

On 12 Nov, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) launched Singapore's second National Strategic Action Plan on AMR (NSAPv2). The NSAPv2 was jointly developed by CDA, National Environmental Agency, National Parks Board, Singapore Food Agency and PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency.

We are honoured that our research has provided important insights that guided the development of the national plan. Of the 36 references cited in the plan, 8 were publications from our group. We are heartened to note that the initiatives in NSAPv2's Core Strategy 1 on Communication and Education include:

- Taking a One Health approach to develop educational initiatives that address both personal and pet antibiotic usage

- Exploring innovative channels to deliver educational messages to younger adults

- Engaging the community to co-design and implement solutions to improve appropriate antibiotic usage

(https://www.cda.gov.sg/public/antimicrobial-resistance/singapore-s-national-strategic-action-plans-on-amr)

📚 Explore our publications here: sites.google.com/view/stewards-ttsh-publications/home

Antibiotics are for everyone, our past and our future generations, right? If antibiotics are dead, we will be in big trouble”: Building on community values for public engagement on appropriate use of antibiotics in Singapore.

18/11/2025

🌏 WAAW 2025: Act Now, Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future

AMR is a growing global threat, and the time to act is now. This WAAW, we chose the Red Pill - confronting the reality of AMR by engaging with experts and staying at the forefront of research.

Over the past two weeks, we attended:

1) WAAW
2) Singapore Antimicrobial Resistance Research Symposium 2025
3) One Health- AMR Symposium

Connecting with experts in the field, sharing ideas, and assessing the latest evidence reinforces the urgent need to act now, protect our present and secure our future.

12/11/2025

🔬 Research Findings: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬: 𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭

Our research team recruited 41 veterinarians across Singapore to examine how shared decision-making (SDM) is associated with appropriate antibiotic prescribing for pet cats and dogs, and what are the factors that would promote SDM.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
- The effectiveness of SDM in promoting appropriate antibiotic prescribing appears to be condition-specific in vet clinics.
- Vets who 1) perceived that their vet clinic values the prioritisation of pet owner satisfaction over appropriate antibiotic prescribing, 2) had the capacity to build relationships and communicate with owners on antibiotic prescribing, and 3) believed in collaborative communication and SDM with owners on antibiotic prescribing, were more likely to engage in SDM.
- Overall, aligning AMR-related values between vet clinics and vets to enable effective communication with pet owners can promote SDM, potentially driving appropriate antibiotic prescribing for pet cats and dogs subsequently.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
This research sheds light on a unique antibiotic stewardship approach in vet clinics. Encouraging the prioritisation of owner experience and satisfaction could yield an indirect benefit of driving effective communication with owners to promote SDM on antibiotic prescribing.
Better time and resource planning could allow vets to have the capacity to build relationships and communicate with owners on antibiotic prescribing, hence promoting SDM.
In combination with previous research findings, vets could take initiative in investigating owner’s feeding concerns and delivering training and advice to owners on antibiotic administration methods, to better involve pet owners in discussions related to antibiotic prescribing.

📕: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111139

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) can improve appropriate antibiotic prescribing in human primary care clinics, but little is known about it in the veterinary setting. This study examines the association between SDM and antibiotic prescribing for cats and dogs in veterinary clinics, then dete...

31/10/2025

🎉 Heartiest congratulations to Dr Angela Chow, our Principal Investigator and Senior Consultant on this well-deserved recognition.🏆

This achievement reflects the dedication to clinical excellence and innovation that drives our healthcare forward.

10/10/2025

🎉 What an amazing experience at

This year's theme is "Is More Tech Actually More in Health?" and our research team made us incredibly proud by securing awards in the Best Poster Award (Allied Health) category.

Special congratulations goes to:
Guo Huiling - Bronze Award Winner 🥉
Seema Aithal - Silver Award Winner 🥈

The entire team also had the opportunity to share their work at the Poster Village, engaging with fellow researchers and healthcare professionals.

Thanks to SHBC for connecting healthcare leaders and researchers, and to our team for their continued excellence in allied health research.

30/09/2025

💡New Protocol Alert: Using Social Influencers for Public Health Education on Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance

📕Read the full protocol here:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24338-z

09/08/2025

Happy 60th Birthday, Singapore!

11/07/2025

🔬 New Research Alert: 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞: 𝐀 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2025.107489

04/07/2025

📊 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱-𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵: 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀.

🐶 🐱 A comprehensive study, combining results from a quantitative survey amongst 1,080 pet owners and qualitative interviews with 19 veterinarians, provides robust insights into antibiotic stewardship in the veterinary setting.

Key Quantitative Findings:
• Half of the pet owners were informed of the different treatment options available, and weighed the pros and cons with their vets, in shared decision-making on antibiotic prescribing for their pets
• Cat owners were twice as likely as non-cat owners to engage in these discussions
• 86.8% of pet owners prioritised appropriate antibiotics over ease of administration
• 74.4% wanted more training on administering medication to their pets
Key Qualitative Insights from Veterinarians:
• Shared decision-making was mostly driven by the vet’s individual initiative
• Discussions often focused on how pet owners would like to administer the antibiotic, but rarely on antibiotic choice
• Vets were motivated by the belief that pet owners have the right to choose antibiotic options that fit their circumstances
• Pet owners often had to initiate conversations about antibiotic administration or feeding concerns; otherwise, shared decision-making would not occur

Proactive exploration of pet owners’ needs and concerns during shared decision-making, and provision of the necessary training and advice to pet owners, can enhance antibiotic stewardship for pet cats and dogs.

Read the full paper here:
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04881-w

Veterinarians primarily engage pet owners in shared decision-making (SDM) to enhance treatment outcomes and owner satisfaction, but not specifically for antibiotic stewardship. This study aims to understand how SDM occurs and how to better involve pet owners in appropriate antibiotic prescribing for...

02/05/2025

📰Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Our pet owners’ study just hit The Straits Times!

Dive into the interesting findings about antibiotic use in pets, vis-a-vis their owners:

https://straitstimes.com/singapore/health/share-a-bed-with-your-fur-kid-heres-what-you-should-know-about-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

A local study shows 3 in 4 pet owners don't know such bacteria can spread between them and their pets. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.