Using AMR data for policy-making

Introduction

A policy is defined as:

a plan, course of action, or set of regulations adopted by government, businesses, or other institutions designed to influence and determine decisions or procedures.

(quoted in NCCPE, n.d.)

‘Policy-maker’ is a broad term that covers all the people responsible for formulating or amending policy. Policy-makers may consult academics, clinicians and veterinarians (among others), and these professionals can in turn approach policy-makers during the policy-making process. Policy-makers are often time-poor, and tend to be generalists, but it is important not to underestimate their skills and experience – particularly when it comes to understanding complex issues and assimilating knowledge (NCCPE, n.d.).

The global coronavirus pandemic significantly altered the global infectious diseases landscape and conversation. There is a clear need to rethink how to position the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) agenda in order to take an active role in shaping this new global environment, and clearly communicate this to the broader audience of policy-makers looking at more general health security and pandemic preparedness (Wellcome Trust, 2020). In this course you will cover the skills needed to take an active role in the policy-making process.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • understand how AMR data can influence policy-making
  • identify the relevant policy-makers and their roles
  • use an engaging and accessible writing style for people who have major time constraints and who are not subject matter experts
  • effectively deliver science advice to policy-makers
  • recognise barriers to policy-making and how to overcome them.

In order to achieve your digital badge and Statement of Participation for this course, you must:

  • click on every page of the course
  • pass the end-of-course quiz
  • complete the course satisfaction survey.

The quiz allows up to three attempts at each question. A passing grade is 50% or more.

When you have successfully achieved the completion criteria listed above you will receive an email notification that your badge and Statement of Participation have been awarded. (Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for these to be issued.)

Activity 1: Assessing your skills and knowledge

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Before you begin this course, you should take a moment to think about the learning outcomes and how confident you feel about your knowledge and skills in these areas. Do not worry if you do not feel very confident in some skills – they may be areas that you are hoping to develop by studying these courses.

Now use the interactive tool to rate your confidence in these areas using the following scale:

  • 5 Very confident
  • 4 Confident
  • 3 Neither confident nor not confident
  • 2 Not very confident
  • 1 Not at all confident

This is for you to reflect on your own knowledge and skills you already have.

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If you would like to know more about data use for policy-making you may be interested in the resources provided by the RADDAR project, which aims to improve data-sharing and use for AMR policy, planning and advocacy.

1 Informing policy-making