Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to Delayed Antibiotic Prescribing in Rural Northwest China: A Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework and Behavior Change Wheel

Background: Antimicrobial resistance, exacerbated by antibiotic misuse, poses a global threat. Though delayed antibiotic prescribing (DAP) can mitigate antibiotic overuse, its adoption in developing nations, such as China, is limited. This study probed barriers and facilitators to DAP in Xinjiang, characterized by extensive rural landscapes and primary care institutions (PCIs). Methods: Adopting a qualitative methodology, we conducted key informant interviews with thirty participants across six county hospitals in Xinjiang using VooV Meeting. Employing a two-stage sampling method targeting economically diverse areas, our interviews spanned physicians, pharmacists, patients, and caregivers. We organized the data according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW), spotlighting behavioral and policy elements impacting DAP. Results: Our research included thirty interviewees. Twelve physicians contemplated delayed prescriptions, while five adult patients and six caregivers encountered recommendations for delayed antibiotic prescriptions. Six patients sought pharmacists' advice on antibiotic necessity. Prominent TDF domains were memory, attention, and beliefs about consequences. Critical intervention functions included education and environmental restructuring, while vital policy categories encompassed communication/marketing and guidelines. Conclusions: Countering antibiotic misuse and resistance in China necessitates overcoming barriers through strategic resource distribution, comprehensive education, rigorous training, and consistent monitoring, thereby promoting DAP adoption. The adoption of DAP in rural healthcare settings in China has the potential to significantly reduce antibiotic misuse, thereby mitigating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.