Significant Impact Group(s): Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Reduced AMU
Summary: A questionnaire to understand veterinary attitudes towards prescribing antibiotics found veterinarians working across species were comparable in their opinions towards the Dutch policy to halve veterinary antibiotic consumption. Less experienced veterinarians and those working with ruminants reported difficulty resisting farmers’ or colleagues’ demands for antibiotics compared with veterinarians working with pigs/poultry/veal. Contrastingly, more experience was associated with being less concerned about the contribution of veterinarians to antimicrobial resistance, considering it more important to keep the right to prescribe and sell antibiotics. The main perceived reasons for non-compliance with veterinary advice by farmers were related to finances and time, although pig/poultry/veal veterinarians highlighted conflicting advice from other advisors as a cause for non-compliance. This study suggests that less experienced veterinarians might require support to resist pressure from farmers/colleagues. Additionally, experienced veterinarians could be educated about overuse of antibiotics. Alternative approaches should be identified for veterinarians to preserve an income from advising and to prevent contradictory advice being a barrier.
55 Research paper – Speksnijder – 2015 – Attitudes and perceptions of Dutch veterinarians on their role in the reduction of antimicrobial use in farm animals
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587715300039; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.08.014
Country: NL

55 Research paper – Speksnijder – 2015 – Attitudes and perceptions of Dutch veterinarians on their role in the reduction of antimicrobial use in farm animals

 

 

Significant Impact Group(s): Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Reduced AMU
Summary: Veterinarians are responsible for prescribing and overseeing antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals. An understanding of veterinarians’ prescribing practices can help to design interventions to reduce AMU in farming. This Dutch study identified factors that influence farm veterinarian prescribing. Research interviews with eleven farm veterinarians were conducted and analysed. There were many conflicting interests identified regarding antimicrobial prescribing by veterinarians. A veterinarian’s professional obligation to reduce animal suffering, financial dependency on clients, risk avoidance, concerns about own skills, lack of farmers’ compliance to veterinary recommendations, public health interests and personal beliefs regarding their contribution to AMR, were found to be factors in antimicrobial prescribing behaviour of farm veterinarians. Interventions to change prescribing behaviour could address veterinary attitudes, advisory skills and provide tools to deal with (perceived) pressure from farmers to prescribe antimicrobials. Policy measures could support farm veterinarians to shift to a more independent animal health consultant role.
50 Research paper – Speksnijder – 2014 – Determinants Associated with Veterinary Antimicrobial Prescribing in Farm Animals in the Netherlands_ A Qualitative Study
Where to find the original material:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/zph.12168; https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12168
Country: NL

50 Research paper – Speksnijder – 2014 – Determinants Associated with Veterinary Antimicrobial Prescribing in Farm Animals in the Netherlands_ A Qualitative Study