Pet Owners and Antibiotics: Knowledge, Opinions, Expectations, and Communication Preferences

Scarborough, Ri; Hardefeldt, Laura Y.; Browning, Glenn F.; Bailey, Kirsten E

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10111326

Cited by 19 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…This pressure to resolve a problem in a single visit was also described by other participants (b14, c1, n1, n18) as a barrier to withholding antimicrobial treatment. It was also evident in studies of veterinarians in the UK [ 15 ] and The Netherlands [ 19 ], and is supported locally by a survey study of Australian pet owners, one-quarter of whom indicated that they would be annoyed if their animal was not fixed the first time and they had to return to the clinic [ 34 ]. However, a search of the medical literature failed to find a similar expectation in human medicine.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

‘Brave Enough’: A Qualitative Study of Veterinary Decisions to Withhold or Delay Antimicrobial Treatment in Pets

et al. 2023

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Veterinarians sometimes prescribe antimicrobials even when they know or suspect that they are unnecessary. The drivers of this behaviour must be understood to design effective antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 veterinarians who treated companion animals in Australia. The Theory of Planned Behaviour was used to organise interview themes, focusing on a decision to withhold antimicrobial therapy in the absence of a clear indication. Many background factors influenced antimicrobial-withholding decisions, including the veterinarian’s communication skills, general attitudes towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR), habits and energy levels. Client awareness of AMR and the veterinarian–client relationship were also important. Beliefs about the consequences of withholding antimicrobials (behavioural beliefs) were dominated by fears of the animal’s condition deteriorating and of failing to meet client expectations. These fears, weighed against the seemingly distant consequences of AMR, were major barriers to withholding antimicrobials. Normative beliefs were primarily focused on the expected approval (or disapproval) of the client and of other veterinarians. Control beliefs about the difficulty of withholding antimicrobials centred around client factors, most importantly, their capacity to adequately monitor their animal, to pay for further investigations, or to undertake non-antimicrobial management, such as wound care, at home. The use of antimicrobials by companion animal veterinarians in the absence of a clear indication is often powerfully driven by behavioural beliefs, chiefly, fears of clinical deterioration and of failing to meet client expectations.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

‘Brave Enough’: A Qualitative Study of Veterinary Decisions to Withhold or Delay Antimicrobial Treatment in Pets

et al. 2023

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“…If most veterinarians are in favour of using more C&S testing to improve the quality of prescribing and the main barrier is cost, exploring the impacts on antimicrobial prescribing of subsidising or reducing C&S testing costs is an important target for future AMS interventions and should be explored as part of a One Health approach to addressing AMR [ 61 , 62 ]. Improving communication with clients about the benefits of using these diagnostic tests could also be beneficial [ 31 , 63 , 64 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These included time pressures on prescribers, concerns about patient deterioration and animal welfare without antimicrobial use, concerns about client perceptions or direct requests for antimicrobials, and costs associated with additional testing. Communication techniques for use by veterinarians when not prescribing antimicrobials have been developed, but have not yet been evaluated [ 63 ]. Other issues around feasibility are likely to require increased education for veterinarians and other associated personnel and the development of systems that do not result in additional time pressures for veterinarians, but instead, enable them to obtain permission or support for the appropriate use of high-importance antimicrobials easily when required.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes towards Use of High-Importance Antimicrobials—A Cross-Sectional Study of Australian Veterinarians

et al. 2022

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The timely implementation of antimicrobial stewardship interventions could delay or prevent the development of higher levels of antimicrobial resistance in the future. In food-producing animals in Australia, high-importance antimicrobials, as rated by the Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (ASTAG), include virginiamycin and third-generation cephalosporins (in individual pigs or cattle). The use of high-importance antimicrobials in companion animals is more widespread and less regulated. There is no national antimicrobial use surveillance system for animals in Australia. Consequently, there is a gap in the knowledge about reasonable use across all sectors of veterinary practice. This study explored attitudes towards the use in veterinary medicine of antimicrobials with high importance to human health, and determined levels of agreement about the introduction of restrictions or other conditions on this use. An online survey was distributed via social media and email from June to December 2020 to veterinarians working in Australia. Of the 278 respondents working in clinical practice, 49% had heard of the ASTAG rating system, and 22% used a traffic light system for antimicrobial importance in their practice. Overall, 61% of participants disagreed that veterinarians should be able to prescribe high-importance antimicrobials without restrictions. If there were to be restrictions, there was most agreement amongst all respondents for only restricting high-importance antimicrobials (73%). There is a need for education, guidance, and practical support for veterinarians for prescribing high-importance antimicrobials alongside any restrictions.

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“…However, having a dog entails problems in terms of daily care and costs. Owners' desire to treat their dogs with unnecessary antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance [5]. Another significant problem is the risk of being bitten or struck by a dog, and such a risk applies also to people who do not have a pet.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospitalization for dog bites in Poland between 2006–2020

Cianciara¹,

Goryński²,

Seroka³

2022

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction andObjective. Owning a dog or spending time around a dog have many benefits, but also pose a risk of being bitten or attacked. Currently, publications on dog bites and related factors come from both high-income countries and low-and middle-income countries. So far, no attempt has been made to assess this phenomenon in Poland. The aim of this study was to determine the number of such events and evaluate hospital medical assistance provided to dog bite victims in Poland in the period of 15 years between 2006-2020. Materials and method. This cross-sectional study was based on the data from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study and cases with the code W54 (ICD-10) as the cause of hospitalization. As part of the analysis, victim demographical data, with an emphasis on city-and country-dwellers, as well as treatment variables were assessed. Results. Between 2006Between -2020,145 cases of hospitalizations for dog bites were found, of which approx. 42% occurred in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Most of the victims were children aged 0-9, and this is especially common among boys living in the countryside. It was found that regardless of the place of residence, there was a systematic decrease in hospitalization of men as they were older. In women, however, the decrease in hospitalization concerned only the age groups 0-39. Among older women, the percentage of hospitalization increased, especially among rural women aged 60 and over. Conclusions. Hospital discharge records report a small number of dog bites. These are only the tip of the iceberg. The problem has a multi-factorial nature and requires epidemiological monitoring and further research on correlates and determinants, as well as preventive measures.

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Pet Owners and Antibiotics: Knowledge, Opinions, Expectations, and Communication Preferences

Cited by 19 publications

References 35 publications

‘Brave Enough’: A Qualitative Study of Veterinary Decisions to Withhold or Delay Antimicrobial Treatment in Pets

‘Brave Enough’: A Qualitative Study of Veterinary Decisions to Withhold or Delay Antimicrobial Treatment in Pets

Attitudes towards Use of High-Importance Antimicrobials—A Cross-Sectional Study of Australian Veterinarians

Hospitalization for dog bites in Poland between 2006–2020

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