Abstract
Understanding farmers’ behavior, motivations, and perceptions toward antimicrobial use can influence how veterinarians translate research into practice and guide effective ways of implementing protocols. A multidisciplinary team investigated behavioral tendencies of New York dairy farmers toward antimicrobial use by administering a survey modeled with the reasoned action approach. This approach is a framework from social psychology containing the constructs attitude, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control, and is used in combination with structural equation modeling to determine what drives intentions. Multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) models were then used to determine the effects of beliefs on their underlying constructs. The objective of the study was to provide direct and indirect measures of the constructs using survey data to determine importance of and associations with intention to use antimicrobials prudently. The structural equation model indicated that perceived behavioral control explained intention. Thus, farmers who feel capable of prudent use expressed positive intentions. Attitude and perception of others also had influence to a lesser extent. MIMIC models showed that the most important attributes of instrumental attitude were increasing profitability, decreasing risk of residues, and increasing herd health. Contributing attributes of affective attitude were job satisfaction, decreasing resistance, and increasing milk production. For perceived norms, the attributes were opinions/approval of family and peers, veterinarians, and milk processors. Finally, for perceived behavioral control, attributes focused on saving money on labor and treatment, ability to fit into the daily routine, and effectiveness with veterinary guidance. In conclusion, the best approach for adoption of practices might be presentation of examples of successful strategies by other producers, particularly in peer groups. In addition, veterinarians should provide the tools and guidance needed to produce economic gain, reduction of risks associated with residues and resistance, and positive experiences when using the tactics.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern worldwide [1]
Despite favorable results in these studies, promotion of these practices at conferences attended by veterinarians, and publication of extension articles in industry related magazines, a survey by the US National Animal Health Monitoring System in 2014 indicated that 87.3% of cows with clinical mastitis are treated with antimicrobials and over 90% of cows are treated at dry-off with a long-acting antimicrobial [19]
A multidisciplinary team investigated behavioral tendencies of New York dairy farmers toward antimicrobial use by administering a survey modeled with the reasoned action approach. This approach is a framework from social psychology containing the constructs attitude toward the expected outcome of the behavior (A), perceived norms or beliefs about what others expect them to do in relation to the behavior (PN), and perceived behavioral control, and is used in combination with structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine what drives intentions (I)
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern worldwide [1]. Populations of bacteria might naturally become resistant; the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials by human medical and animal production systems has accelerated the evolution of resistance [2,3,4,5]. For example, in the Netherlands, that forbid preventative use of antimicrobials on dairy farms for purposes such as prophylactic treatment of all cows prior to their non-milking dry period [8]. Despite favorable results in these studies, promotion of these practices at conferences attended by veterinarians, and publication of extension articles in industry related magazines, a survey by the US National Animal Health Monitoring System in 2014 indicated that 87.3% of cows with clinical mastitis are treated with antimicrobials and over 90% of cows are treated at dry-off with a long-acting antimicrobial [19]. A recent survey on dairies in Washington State indicated that a large proportion of participants had positive intentions and behaviors toward reducing antimicrobial use: these participants 1) understood that antibiotics that worked well in the past are becoming less effective; 2) selected the correct definition of resistance [20]. Understanding dairy farmers’ behavior, motivations, and perceptions toward antimicrobial use in the US, where policies and practices differ from those implemented in Europe, can influence how veterinarians, industry professionals, and extension experts translate research into practice and guide effective ways of implementing protocols
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