Volume 121, Issues 3–4, 1 October 2015, Pages 365–373
Highlights
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- Attitudes and perceptions of Dutch veterinarians on their role in the reduction of antimicrobial use in farm animals.
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- Farm animal veterinarians differ in attitudes on antimicrobial use based on animal species they are working with and years of experience.
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- Experienced veterinarians feel more confident to act independent from farmers’ wishes.
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- Experienced veterinarians rely more on the veterinary pharmacy.
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- Benchmarking, improved feed quality and improved housing believed to be effective in antimicrobial reduction.
Abstract
Little
is known about attitudes of veterinarians towards antibiotic use and
reduction opportunities, and their interaction with farmers herein.
Therefore, a questionnaire was developed and sent out to Dutch farm
animal veterinarians. The response rate was 40%. Categorical Principal
Component Analysis (CATPCA) was conducted on statements measuring
attitudes towards the use of antibiotics and reduction opportunities in
farm animals, the veterinary pharmacy and the interaction of
veterinarians with farmers in improving animal health. This resulted in 3
underlying dimensions. Additionally, possible explanatory variables
(main farm animal species working with, years of experience in practice)
were added to the CATPCA to identify differences between veterinarians.
Veterinarians working with different animal species were comparable in
their opinions towards the necessity to reduce veterinary antibiotic use
and the current policy to halve veterinary antibiotic consumption.
Veterinarians working with ruminants – “ruminant specialists” – and
veterinarians working with several different animal species –
“generalists” – reported to feel more uncertainty in acting
independently from farmers' and significant others' (other advisors,
colleagues) demands for antibiotics or opinions than veterinarians
mainly working with intensively raised animals (pigs, poultry, veal
calves) – “intensive specialists”. Years of experience in practice was
negatively related to feelings of uncertainty in acting independently.
At the other hand, years of experience was associated with being less
concerned about the possible contribution of veterinary antibiotic use
to antimicrobial resistance, considering it more important to keep the
right to prescribe and sell antibiotics, and being less hesitant to
apply antibiotics to prevent (further dissemination of) animal diseases.
Intensive specialists expected most from improving feed quality and
benchmarking of antibiotic prescribing and use in reducing veterinary
antibiotic use; ruminant specialists and generalists preferred improving
housing and climate conditions and benchmarking. The by veterinarians
perceived main reasons for farmers not to comply to veterinary advices
to improve animal health were related to financial and time
restrictions, although intensive specialists stressed the importance of
conflicting advices from other advisors as a cause for non-compliance.
The results showed that younger veterinarians might require additional
support to act independently from farmers’ and significant others’.
Additionally, experienced veterinarians could be educated about possible
risks related to veterinary overuse of antibiotics. Alternative
approaches should be identified for veterinarians to preserve a decent
income without pharmacy incomes. Especially in intensive farming, ways
should be found to prevent contradictory advices as a barrier not to
implement veterinary advices to improve animal health.
Keywords
- Prescribing behaviour;
- Veterinary medicine;
- Farm animals;
- Antimicrobial resistance;
- Antimicrobial use;
- Prescribing determinants
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
