Patient Information

The ARK patient information ensures patients and their families are involved in decisions about antibiotic treatment.

In primary care there is strong evidence that engaging patients in antibiotic prescribing decisions helps reduce antibiotic over use.

The ARK research found that similarly in secondary care patients are keen to be involved in antibiotic prescribing decisions. The ARK patient leaflet was co-designed and optimised with patient input. It informs patients, their families and carers about the benefits and risks of antibiotics, about how healthcare professionals prescribe and monitor antibiotics and explains what they can do when antibiotic treatment finishes.

By involving patients, their families and carers and nursing staff in decisions around antibiotic review and revise it helps make ARK effective in safely reducing antibiotic over use.