Using Mind Mapping in Research Methods to Achieve Impactful Outcomes

Educating healthcare professionals on best practices through maintaining effective teaching, learning, and research methodologies enhances their capacity to lead effectively. Their lifelong mission is to mitigate the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), fostering improvements in antibiotic prescribing practices and enhancing public health education. This commitment to global health advancements motivates them to pursue innovative solutions to AMR worldwide. In their research project investigating antimicrobial use during the COVID-19 pandemic, they initially utilised 'MindMap' to organise their thoughts before conducting their research methodology. This helped them to be organised with a structured mindset, adhering to the principle of 'Begin With the End in Mind'. The transformative role of mind mapping in revolutionising research strategy and execution was pivotal in a study on 'Start Smart, Then Focus' antimicrobial stewardship at an NHS Foundation Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic. By organising complex data and simplifying the research process, mind mapping significantly aided in addressing the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship throughout the medication use process, from antibiotic prescribing to transcribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring. It also facilitated the development of stewardship intervention strategies and metrics to measure the outcomes of stewardship implementation, essential in tackling the challenges of antimicrobial resistance during a global health crisis, and identifying antibiotic trends during the pandemic according to the World Health Organisation, AWaRe classification. This approach was crucial in achieving meaningful research outcomes and offers a valuable model for future healthcare studies.