Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of local veterinary practitioners and dairy farmers to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and their intention to change to more responsible antimicrobial use practices

Abstract

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global health emergency, threatening disease treatment and control in both humans and animals. Agricultural Antimicrobial Use (AMU) has been linked to the emergence of resistant bacteria in humans and therefore is of increasing concern in the fight against AMR. Understanding attitudes and factors which influence the decision-making process of farmers and veterinarians to use antimicrobials, and the translation of behavioural intentions into sustained behaviour change is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for tackling AMR. Studies are needed to better understand the reasons behind AMU as there is a lack of research applying theoretical models to farmers and veterinarians AMU practices on dairy farms. Such work can help to propose behaviour change interventions which are more likely to bring about real change to AMU on farm.

Thus, using a mixed methods approach this thesis investigated the factors influencing the behaviours of dairy farmers and veterinarians on the Island of Ireland when deciding to use and prescribe antimicrobials (Dairy farmer surveys n=240, veterinarian surveys n=26, veterinarian interviews n=12). It uncovered the barriers and enablers to responsible AMU within the dairy sector and using COM-B model of behaviour change, proposed interventions which may be successfully implemented and sustained to promote responsible AMU on dairy farms.

Based on these findings, the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to propose potential behaviour change interventions to promote more responsible AMU behaviours for both dairy farmers and veterinarians. As a final step, a multi-stakeholder workshop comprised of dairy farmers, dairy farm advisors, dairy technologists and a veterinarian (n=10) took place. Key stakeholders from the Northern Irish dairy sector rated the proposed behaviour change interventions using the APEASE criteria for behaviour change interventions and took part in a facilitated discussion for each intervention. The involvement of relevant stakeholders in the co-development of interventions helps to maximise the success rate of behaviour change interventions. Farmer education programmes to improve awareness of their role in AMR, farmer peer information sharing groups for farmers to share experiences of reducing AMU successfully with their peers and encourage others to act and training to impart skills needed by farmers to reduce AMU while maintaining herd health and productivity were the top-rated interventions.

The use of the COM-B model has strengthened the understanding of the decision-making process undertaken by farmers and veterinarians when choosing to treat dairy cattle with antimicrobials. This understanding coupled with the further step of encompassing behaviour change theory to facilitate responsible AMU can help implement interventions which have a greater chance of resulting in positive change and more responsible AMU on dairy farms.

Date of Award	Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Supervisor	Moira Dean (Supervisor), Simon Doherty (Supervisor) & Christopher Elliott (Supervisor)