American Journal of Public Health Research, 2019, Vol. 7, No. 2, 58-72 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajphr/7/2/4 Published by Science and Education Publishing DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-7-2-4 The Application of a Conceptual Framework and Model for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) to Reduce Antibiotic Misuse in Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh Province Ngo Huy Hoang 1,* , Joy Notter 2 , Joy Hall 2 1 Nam Dinh University of Nursing 2 Birmingham City University UK *Corresponding author: christian_agutaya@yahoo.com Received April 28, 2019; Revised May 11, 2019; Accepted May 18, 2019 Abstract This study aimed to improve the community health workers’ awareness and practical ability of rational use of antibiotics to reduce antibiotic misuse among the Vietnamese population in Nam Dinh Province. The ‘Modified Kolb’s Model for Vietnam (MKMVN)’ developed and piloted successfully in a rural district of Nam Dinh Province with significant improvements regarding antibiotic use and administration was repeatedly applied for another rural district within Nam Dinh Province as the training program taken place in each of 18 community health centers within the district. Assessment of the effectiveness of program was done through questionnaire and focus group discussion. The study showed positive changes in the health workers’ knowledge and practical ability regarding the use and administration of antibiotics. The health workers’ confidence for working and learning was evident in the focus groups held as part of the final evaluation. The overall mean score for correct responses to the questionnaire elevated significantly from 55.52 ± 9.32 points before the program to 97.19 ± 2.38 points after the completion of the program and remained comparatively high at 83.10 ± 8.28 points after three months. Considerable improvements were seen in solving patients’ problems, providing appropriate treatment and administration of medicines and antibiotics in particular. By using the MKMVN as the educational intervention, this study showed evidently improvements in the participants’ knowledge and practical ability regarding antibiotic use and administration. It also revealed that the model was accessible, acceptable and appropriate for the community health workers. It is recommended that the model can be applied on a larger scale and for other key health issues. Keywords: antibiotic, misuse, model Cite This Article: Ngo Huy Hoang, Joy Notter, and Joy Hall, “The Application of a Conceptual Framework and Model for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) to Reduce Antibiotic Misuse in Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh Province.” American Journal of Public Health Research, vol. 7, no. 2 (2019): 58-72. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-7-2-4. 1. Introduction This study is based within Vietnam. Officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with Hanoi as the capital city, it is a country located in the center of the Southeast Asian Region. Although Vietnam (in land and resources) is a small country, it is the 3 rd most populous country in South East Asia and the 13 th most populous country in the world. According the 2009 Census the population of Vietnam is 85,789,573 [1]. Now regarded as an emerging economy, Vietnam still has many of the problems of other developing countries, not least of which is the misuse of antibiotics. Since antibiotics were discovered they have been acknowledged as one of the greatest scientific achievements, saving a countless number of lives from death by microbial infections. In Vietnam, it is evident that today non-infectious diseases have increased, while infectious illnesses have remained at high rates. Therefore, antibiotics are still integral drugs used to cure people with infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. However, the increasing resistance caused in part by misadministration, is compromising the health of the community. There have been several programs designed to reduce misuse, but these have all focused on the acute, or hospital settings [2]. Therefore, this framework seeks to address these problems within the rural setting where 70% of the population is still residing. It provides a model and program that engages with the community health workers, moving them from a passive acceptance of their limited competence, to actively seeking to learn, and to taking responsibility for their own knowledge and expertise. On a broader level it is hoped that it can readily be applied to other key health issues.