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Identifying veterinary surgeons’ barriers to, and potential solutions for, improving antimicrobial stewardship among sheep farmers in Northern Ireland

Crawford, Paul E.; Hamer, Kim; Lovatt, Fiona; Behnke, Malgorzata C.; Robinson, Philip A.

Authors

Paul E. Crawford

Kim Hamer

Fiona Lovatt

Malgorzata C. Behnke

Philip A. Robinson



Abstract

Background: In order to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), including changes in antimicrobial prescribing and use, an enhanced understanding is needed of the barriers that veterinary surgeons (vets) encounter to institute such change. Methods: A qualitative approach, using grounded theory, was followed. Interviews and discussion groups, with vets and farm industry stakeholders in Northern Ireland (NI), were undertaken to identify and explore attitudes and behaviours surrounding AMS, with a particular emphasis on the barriers vets encountered and the context within which they were working. Results: Seven inter‐related themes associated with improving AMS among their sheep farming clients were identified. The first six addressed barriers were working under commercial and practical constraints, farmer behaviour, multiple medicine sources, poor prescribing practice, a perceived lack of incentive or facilitation to improve AMS and a perceived lack of action by regulators to challenge poor AMS. The seventh theme revealed suggestions vets considered that may improve AMS in NI, including greater state intervention in recording and regulating medicine sales. Conclusions: Improving AMS will require vets and their client farmers to change behaviour. This will involve concerted effort over an extended period of time to enact and embed change. Veterinary surgeons believe that further action by the industry and state to develop centralised antimicrobial sales recording and by the state to enforce prescribing regulations will aid their efforts. However, critical to achieving this is the development of a sustainable and funded mechanism to create more meaningful farmer–vet consultation around flock health prior to every prescription to improve AMS and sheep welfare.

Citation

Crawford, P. E., Hamer, K., Lovatt, F., Behnke, M. C., & Robinson, P. A. (2024). Identifying veterinary surgeons’ barriers to, and potential solutions for, improving antimicrobial stewardship among sheep farmers in Northern Ireland. Veterinary Record Open, 11(1), Article e278. https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.78

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 8, 2024
Online Publication Date Apr 12, 2024
Publication Date 2024-06
Deposit Date Apr 22, 2024
Journal Veterinary Record Open
Electronic ISSN 2052-6113
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 11
Issue 1
Article Number e278
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.78
Publisher URL https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vro2.78