Perceptions Of Antibiotic Use Research Articles

Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Healthcare Students on Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance: A Study in Central University, Ghana

Students undergoing programmes in healthcare will play an important role in the management of antibiotic resistance which is still a global problem. Their knowledge and attitude should be adequately documented. This study is carried out to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among healthcare students in Central University, Ghana. In this study, 1027 students offering courses in pharmacy, nursing and physician assistantship participated in a survey to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and perception on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Data obtained was analyzed using STATA statistics DATA analysis software version 12.0. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared test was employed. Students displayed very good knowledge of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance with students studying physician assistantship and nursing showing greater knowledge. The attitude of the respondents on the use of antibiotics was slightly above average. There was a significant difference (p = 0.029) between students’ programme of study and how they obtained their last course of antibiotics. Students displayed average knowledge on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance but there is a need for more education to improve their perception and attitudes in order to contribute towards curbing the global problem of antibiotic resistance.

Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens.

Veterinary RecordVolume 192, Issue 12 p. 479-480 Research comment Using qualitative methods to explore farmers' antimicrobial use decisions through a more detailed lens Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author Lucy Coyne, Corresponding Author Lucy Coyne [email protected] National Office for Animal Health, Stevenage, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 16 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3192Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References 1Shallcross LJ, Davies SC. Antibiotic overuse: a key driver of antimicrobial resistance. Br J Gen Pract 2014; 64: 604– 5 2Xie T, Liu W, Anderson BD, et al. A system dynamics approach to understanding the One Health concept. PLoS One 2017; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184430 3 HM Government. Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019–2024: the UK's five-year national action plan. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1070263/UK_AMR_5_year_national_action_plan.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 4 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Targets task force report 2020. http://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RUMA-REPORT-021220.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 5 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. Antibiotic use in cattle: dairy trend data and usage by beef farm type 2015–2019. https://ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Antibiotic-Use-in-Cattle-Report.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 6 Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. RUMA targets task force 2: two years on. https://www.ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RUMA-TTF-Report-2022-FINAL-FINAL.pdf (accessed 1 June 2023) 7Jorritsma R, Van der Heide A, Van Geijlswijk IM. Survey of veterinarians in the Netherlands on antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in dairy practice. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104: 9106– 14 8Padda H, Wemette M, Safi AG, et al. New York State dairy veterinarians' perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance: a qualitative interview study. Prev Vet Med 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105428 9Pate LA, Milne CE, McMorran R, et al. Factors influencing Scottish dairy farmers' antibiotic use. Vet Rec 2023; doi: 10.1002/vetr.2997 10Hamilton W, Bosworth G, Ruto E. Entrepreneurial younger farmers and the ‘young farmer problem’ in England. Agric For 2015; 62: 61– 9 11Morris W, Henley A, Dowell D. Farm diversification, entrepreneurship and technology adoption: analysis of upland farmers in Wales. J Rural Stud 2017; 53: 132– 43 12Thelwall M, Nevill T. Is research with qualitative data more prevalent and impactful now? Interviews, case studies, focus groups and ethnographies. Libr Inf Sci Res 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2021.101094 13Christley R, Perkins E. Researching hard-to-reach areas of knowledge: qualitative research in veterinary science. Equine Vet J 2010; 42: 285– 6 14Reschovsky JD, Rich EC, Lake TK. Factors contributing to variations in physicians' use of evidence at the point of care: a conceptual model. J Gen Intern Med 2015; 30(Suppl 3): S555– 61 Volume192, Issue1217 June–1 July 2023Pages 479-480 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Antibiotic responsibility and agricultural publics: diverse stakeholder perceptions of antibiotic use in animal agriculture

This paper examines diverse perspectives around the concept of responsibility concerning antibiotic use in animal agriculture. Antibiotic use in agriculture has been identified as a source of antimicrobial resistance, one of the largest public health threats today. In the United States, efforts to curb antibiotic use in farming draws on a diverse range of actors—including farmers, veterinarians, consumers, and public health advocates—and relies on a mix of industry standards and federal guidelines around responsible use. The paper selects a similarly diverse range of people and employs Q methodology to query the points of disagreement and consensus around the practices that constitute responsible antibiotic use in animal agriculture, and who is responsible for antimicrobial resistance. We find a diverse mix of actor types across three discourses, but with clear differences between farmers and public health advocates. We also argue that, in some cases, points of disagreement and agreement are often based on different interpretations of ideas, indicating points of common ground where there might appear to be disagreement, and areas of difference where there appears to be agreement. We argue that these flexible interpretations of some of the key issues around antibiotic use are nevertheless grounded in durable differences in views of what agriculture is and what it should be.

Knowledge, Attitude, Awareness, and Perceptions among Physicians toward Antibiotic Resistance in Hospitals in South Palestine.

Background Antibiotic resistance is a global problem, and the World Health Organization has made this problem one of its priorities for solving. Therefore, a survey was carried out to investigate the knowledge, attitude, awareness, and perceptions of antibiotic resistance among physicians and to assess the correlation between the knowledge of antibiotic resistance and their years of experience in some Palestinian hospitals. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that targeted physicians who are working in different healthcare facilities in Hebron and Bethlehem governorates. We used a questionnaire for data collection. The questionnaire consists of 42 questions to measure the knowledge, attitudes, awareness, and perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance. Results The response rate was 91.33% (137 of 150 physicians completed the questionnaire). The participants' ages ranged from 25 to 56 years, and the majority were males ( n = 116, 84.7%) working in governmental hospitals ( n = 83, 60.6%). Of physicians, 69.3% ( n = 95) perceived antibiotic resistance as a very important worldwide problem, while 54.7% ( n = 75) perceived a very important problem in the country, 54.0% ( n = 74) a very important problem in their hospital, and 59.1% ( n = 81) a very important problem in their departments. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most known antibiotic-resistant bacteria followed by extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Only 47 physicians (34.3%) think that antibiotics are not used appropriately in their department. Respondents' physicians showed that the development of antibiotic resistance was due to various factors that include self-medication n= (92, 67.2%), overuse of antibiotics ( n = 83, 60.6%), and uncompleted treatment (n= 87, 63.5). Senior specialists/consultants were found to be more knowledgeable about antibiotic resistance. Conclusion In our survey, physicians showed variable knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic resistance. Introducing educational programs is necessary to improve their understanding and perceptions of antibiotic resistance, as well as their attitude toward antibiotic use.

Impact of clinical pharmacist's educational intervention tools in enhancing public awareness and perception of antibiotic use: A randomized control trial

IntroductionIn most developing countries, antimicrobial resistance is a public threat, and insufficient knowledge of antibiotics among the public adds to it. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the clinical pharmacist's pamphlets and video-based educational tools to address the public's knowledge, attitude, and practice gaps on antibiotic use. MethodsThis was a pre-and post-intervention cohort study of the adult population in South India who can read and understand Tamil or English. The study participants were designated into two groups-usual care group (pamphlet-based) and interventional group (video-based), with a pre-intervention assessment using a self-administered questionnaire, followed by an educational intervention by a clinical pharmacist, and finally, a post-intervention assessment after three months. ResultOf the162 respondents, the majority were female (58%), in the age group of 26–35 (30%), with intermediate education (43%) from a middle-income family. The mean score calculated for each domain among the two groups: knowledge score (Pamphlet based-Pre: 2.26 ± 1.13; post: 3.23 ± 1.02), (Video based-Pre: 2.22 ± 1.45; post: 3.95 ± 0.89), Attitude score (Pamphlet based-Pre: 2.53 ± 1.96; post: 3.23 ± 0.9), (Video based-Pre: 2.39 ± 1.81; post: 4.21 ± 1.35), Practice score (Pamphlet based-Pre: 2.19 ± 1.02; post: 4.46 ± 1.81). A significant improvement was observed in all domains of the video-based counselling group compared to the pamphlet-based (p < 0.001). ConclusionClinical pharmacists can effectively help in combating growing catastrophic AMR. Newer technologies need to be deployed in healthcare to educate the unreached. This study gives an insight into the technology-supported educational tool to provide awareness to the public effectively.

Nursing home residents’ experiences and perceptions of antibiotic use: A qualitative descriptive study

Antibiotics are commonly used in the nursing home (NH) setting. Little is known of NH residents' perceptions and experiences regarding antibiotic use. This was a qualitative descriptive study. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with NH residents. Interview transcripts were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Twenty-six residents were interviewed. Four themes emerged: (1) perceived benefits and risks to antibiotics; (2) information needs regarding antibiotic treatment; (3) approaches to address information needs; and (4) resident involvement in antibiotic treatment decisions. The perceived benefits of antibiotics were described as symptom-relief and cure; risks included gastrointestinal symptoms and antibiotic resistance. Informational needs included the indication for antibiotics, risks and side-effects of antibiotics, and potential interactions between antibiotic treatments and medication regimens. Residents performed information seeking behaviors to address informational needs but described difficulty obtaining and recalling desired information. Diverse involvement in antibiotic treatment decisions were described, in which a subset of participants reported seeking antibiotics from their prescriber. Future efforts aiming to improve collaborative decision making and antibiotic use in the NH setting should address the unmet information needs of NH residents regarding their antibiotic treatment plans.

Ileum transcriptional response to prolonged supplementation with phytogenic product containing menthol, carvacrol and carvone

Pathogen control is a critical issue in the layer industry. Plant-based natural products are firmly replacing the undesirable use of antibiotics in animal production. The poultry industry embraced the opportunity to distance itself from the negative public perception of antibiotic use. In this study, we investigated the effects of a phytogenic product comprising of menthol, carvacrol and carvone on ileum gene expression profile in layers after 16 weeks of continual supplementation. Phytogen supplementation increased endocytosis and autophagy while showing significant predicted cardiovascular protective effects. Statistical comparison with over 100,000 manually curated and comparably reanalysed public datasets suggests that the phytogen effects are highly significantly comparable with transcriptomic effects of clinical antibiotics doxycycline and geldanamycin, and that phytogen can reverse transcriptomic effects of a range of viral diseases and malaria. Our data confirmed the hypothesis that similarly to the original essential oil type antimicrobial constituents of phytogenic products, there may be a range of benefits unrelated to their critical antimicrobial action, contributing to improved bird welfare.

Antibiotic prescribing knowledge: A brief survey of providers and staff at an ambulatory cancer center during Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019.

We surveyed healthcare professionals at a cancer center regarding their knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic use. Most knew the term "antimicrobial stewardship." Nurses and other staff were less likely than pharmacists or providers to answer knowledge-based questions correctly. Opportunities exist to improve antibiotic knowledge among cancer center staff.

New York State dairy veterinarians’ perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance: A qualitative interview study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) limits the ability to prevent and treat infection, making AMR one of the foremost threats to human and animal health. Animal agriculture’s large use of antibiotics in food animals is an important factor in AMR. As such, policies to reduce antibiotic use and combat AMR in animal agriculture in the United States (US) have been in place or are developed. One key to the success of these policies in the US is understanding how a major stakeholder - veterinarians treating dairy cattle - perceive the scale of antibiotic use, the threat of AMR and the utility of antibiotic use policies. We interviewed 9 dairy veterinarians in New York State and conducted an iterative thematic analysis of their responses, through which five themes were identified: 1. veterinarians’ views of the frequency and reasons for antibiotic misuse, 2. their ideas on reducing antibiotic use, 3. perceptions of AMR within the dairy industry, 4. view of organic farming and how it relates to animal welfare, and 5. the impact of consumers’ beliefs on the dairy industry. Participants viewed antibiotic overuse as largely due to farmers’ concern for the welfare of their cattle and desire to treat ailments swiftly. Interviewees believed that it was possible to reduce antibiotic use through regulation, such as the Veterinary Feed Directive and improved herd management activities, such as better colostrum management, culture-based mastitis treatment, and improved housing conditions. They did not view the dairy industry as a significant contributor to AMR, particularly when compared to the human medical industry. Interviewees also offered their (unsolicited) opinion on organic dairy farming in the US and expressed frustration with the limited treatment options available in organic dairy farming and how this dynamic may potentially compromise animal welfare. Finally, they commented on the impact of consumers’ beliefs on the dairy industry, expressing frustration with how misinformation about the dairy industry has led to consumer driven changes. As consumer beliefs have an impact on the dairy industry, this influence could be leveraged to further decrease antibiotic use. These findings can help guide future efforts in veterinarian-client communication and the development and implementation of effective policies in New York State. These results also highlight the need for more quantitative research on antibiotic use in the dairy industry, as without this data it will be difficult to ascertain the true impact of policy interventions.

Alternative approaches to antimicrobial use in the turkey industry: Challenges and perspectives

Poultry production has experienced a major shift with the prohibition of the use of antimicrobials and antibiotics as growth promoters. The industry in general, and more specifically turkey producers, are facing a changing world in that many consumers have a perception and certain beliefs about food production while the truth maybe something else. Additionally, perception has become a reality when it comes to consumer acceptance, which affects consumer purchasing behavior. In this regard, in many cases and genres, the public perception of antibiotic use in turkey production can be generally negative. The truth that antibiotics and other antimicrobials can be beneficial to both turkeys and consumers is lost. Therefore, turkey producers are accepting the challenge to rear turkey flocks without growth promoting antibiotics or antimicrobials. In some cases and some locales, this has become the law. In other markets, consumer desires and purchasing habits are the driving force for change. Turkey producers are scrutinizing production practices to ascertain and provide the optimal environment for turkey production. In addition, alternatives to antibiotics are being developed, tested, evaluated, and used for turkey production in increasing frequency. These include, but not limited to, probiotics (direct-fed microbials), prebiotics, organic acids, essential oils, spices, and plant and yeast extracts. Researchers are joining forces with turkey producers to develop use plans for these feed additives that, in most cases, are not the same as for antibiotic administration. Turkey producers have become proactive in developing these plans and are preparing to provide exceptional quality products that will meet consumer acceptance. However, more research focusing specifically on turkeys is certainly needed so that these alternative approaches can be optimized to meet the turkey production necessities.

Perceptions of Antibiotic Use and Resistance: Are Antibiotics the Dentists' Anxiolytics?

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis. The aim of this study was to explore dentists’ perceptions of antibiotic resistance. Methods: A qualitative method was used. Seventeen dentists practising in the Nancy (Lorraine, France) region were surveyed. They were general practitioners or specialised in oral surgery, implantology, or periodontology. The practitioners took part in semi-structured interviews between September 2019 and July 2020. All of the interviews were transcribed in full and analysed thematically. Results: Four major themes have been selected: attitudes of the dentists in regard to the guidelines, clinical factors that influence prescriptions, non-clinical factors that influence prescriptions, and the perception of antibiotic resistance. The dentists stated that they were very concerned regarding the public health issue of antibiotic resistance. However, they often prescribe according to their own interests and habits rather than according to the relevant guidelines. Conclusions: Although dentists are generally well aware of antibiotic resistance, they often do not adequately appreciate the link between their prescribing habits and the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. Regular updating of practitioners’ knowledge in this regard is necessary, but patients and the general public should also be made more aware of the issue.

Exploring Nurses' Perception of Antibiotic Use and Resistance: A Qualitative Inquiry.

PurposeQuality use of antibiotics and the development of antibiotic resistance is a global catastrophe. In the conceptual context, the phenomenon is correlated with the healthcare practitioners’ understanding of antibiotic use and resistance. Therefore, the study aimed to highlight nurses’ perception of antibiotic use and resistance at a public healthcare institute in Quetta City, Pakistan.Respondents and MethodsBy using a semi-structured interview guide through the phenomenology-based approach, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted. Nurses practicing at the surgical and medical units of Sandeman Provincial Hospital (SPH), Quetta, were approached for the study. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and were then analyzed for thematic contents by the standard content analysis framework.ResultsAlthough the saturation was reached after the 13th interview, an additional two were interviewed for absolute validation. Content analysis revealed five major themes: (1) defining antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, (2) antibiotic use: awareness and concern, (3) antimicrobial resistance: awareness and concern, (4) responding to antibiotic use and resistance, and (5) barriers to quality use of antibiotics and prevention of antibiotic resistance. Even though the understanding of nurses regarding antibiotic use and resistance was promising, certain apprehensions were also observed. The respondents were aware of the critical situation and provided valuable insights that can offer significant input while promoting the quality use of antibiotics in a developing country.ConclusionWhile the perception towards antibiotics appeared positive, potential areas of concern and contributing factors regarding antibiotic resistance were also identified. Importantly, nurses too highlighted possible solutions to address the issue of irrational antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistance.

How does public perception of antibiotic use on dairy farms contribute to self-reported purchasing of organic?

The United States regulates the use of antibiotics in agricultural settings to address the global antibiotic resistance problem. Conventional dairy cows treated with antibiotics are kept in the herd and after the withholding period milk is harvested. On organic farms, the US organic standard on antibiotic use requires sick dairy cows to be treated, but treated cows must be removed from the herd and their milk can never again be sold as certified organic. This study investigated the US public's perceptions of the organic dairy farming, antibiotic use on dairy farms, and whether these perceptions affect consumer's self‐reported purchasing behavior for organic. We used a nationally representative phone‐based survey of 1000 US adults and characterized participants’ self‐reported (i) knowledge of the legality of antibiotic use on dairy farms (conventional and organic) and (ii) frequency of purchasing organic instead of conventional dairy products, as well as several demographic and other variables. The results indicated that participants’ knowledge about antibiotic use practices in dairy farming have no effect on their self‐reported purchasing behavior for organic or conventional dairy products. However, respondents who were familiar with the regulations of antibiotic use on dairy farms were more likely to oppose the US organic standard on antibiotic use in dairy farming and thought that past antibiotic use should not permanently remove a cow's organic status. These findings contribute to understanding of public perceptions that shape the US dairy organic market.Practical ApplicationIncome, employment, health and political values, but not consumers’ knowledge about antibiotic use in dairy farming, affect self‐reported purchasing behavior for organic dairy products. However, consumers who are familiar with the regulations of antibiotic use on US dairy farms disagree with the US organic standard on antibiotic use mandating loss of organic status for any cattle treated with antibiotics. These findings may be useful to organic markets.

Consumer preferences for reduced antibiotic use in Danish pig production

Denmark has a large and intensive pig production sector which accounts for around half of the total use of antimicrobials in Demark. The economic feasibility of alternative strategies involving reduced use of antibiotics depends not only on their effects on productivity but also on consumers’ demand, and willingness-to-pay (WTP), for pork from pigs with no or lower antibiotic treatment. This study investigates the various concerns that consumers might have about the use of antibiotics in pig production, and how they affect demand and WTP. We used data from an online questionnaire survey of approximately 1000 Danish consumers. WTP estimates were obtained using payment card data analysed in an ordered probit regression. We found that 41 % of the respondents wanted antibiotic use to be reduced substantially, and that they linked reduced use of antibiotics in pig production primarily with reduced risk of antibiotic residues in pork and a lowered risk of resistant bacteria developing. A considerable share of the consumers we sampled also linked reduced antibiotic use with improved animal welfare, and with price increases for pork. Two thirds of the consumers stated a positive WTP for reduced use of antibiotics, but only one in five were willing to pay more than 10 % for pork produced using antibiotics 20 % less than average. The WTP estimates differed with socio-demographic variables (education, geography, gender and age). In addition, the respondents’ perceptions of the effects of reducing antibiotic use and of externalities associated with the pig industry, and the frequency of their pork consumption, were found to affect their WTP for pork produced with lower antibiotic use. As the vast majority of the Danish pork is exported, future studies should examine consumer perceptions of antibiotic use in pig production in importing countries.

Impact of targeted educational intervention towards public knowledge and perception of antibiotic use and resistance in the state of Perak, Malaysia

BackgroundAntibiotic resistance is a major public health concern, accelerated by antibiotic overuse. Inadequate knowledge among the public has been associated with inappropriate use of antibiotics. This study determined the impact of a self-developed educational leaflet for addressing specific knowledge gaps in antibiotic use among the public.MethodsThis was an experimental study conducted at five hospitals and 20 primary health care clinics in the state of Perak. Adults over 18 years of age were recruited using sequential sampling. The first phase of data collection consisted of a pre-intervention assessment, an educational session, and an immediate post-intervention assessment. Each educational session was conducted by trained pharmacists and lasted approximately 15 min for each participant. A two-week post-intervention assessment was then conducted via a phone call to re-assess the participants using the same questionnaire.ResultsOut of 300 questionnaires distributed, 234 were completed for our study. The mean age of participants was 40.7 ± 14.6 years old. Most of the respondents were female (143, 61.1%), Malay (162, 69.2%), and had tertiary education (162, 69.2%). A mean score was generated for each domain, with knowledge towards antibiotic resistance: 2.83 ± 1.28 pre-intervention, 3.76 ± 0.62 immediate post-intervention, and 3.67 ± 0.78 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 4.00); knowledge towards antibiotic use: 2.03 ± 1.56 pre-intervention, 4.56 ± 1.46 immediate post-intervention, and 4.32 ± 1.48 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 6.00); perception towards antibiotic use: 2.83 ± 1.38 pre-intervention, 4.25 ± 1.06 immediate post-intervention, and 4.22 ± 1.02 two-weeks post-intervention (total score: 5.00). Significant improvement in the mean scores were found before and after intervention in all domains (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe educational leaflet was able to address salient knowledge gaps in the participants and remained sustainable over a two-week follow-up. Thus, its inclusion into future antibiotic awareness campaigns should be encouraged.

Public perceptions of antibiotic use on dairy farms in the United States

There has been a global push for improved antimicrobial stewardship, including in animal agriculture, due to growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance. However, little is known about the general public's perceptions of antimicrobial use in animal agriculture. The aim of this study was to explore the US public's perceptions of antibiotic use in dairy farming and how these perceptions influence purchasing decisions. Data from the 2017 Cornell National Social Survey developed in collaboration with the Cornell Survey Research Institute were used to assess the public's perceptions. The Survey Research Institute of Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) administered the survey by telephone to a random sample of 1,000 adults in the continental United States. The survey collected information about perceptions of threat to human health posed by antibiotic use in cows on dairy farms and willingness to pay more for milk from cows raised without antibiotics, as well as several presumed explanatory variables, including respondents' knowledge of antibiotics, beliefs regarding cattle treatment in dairy farming, and 18 sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Among respondents, 90.7% (n = 892/983) reported that antibiotic use on dairy farms posed some level of threat to human health and 71.5% (n = 580/811) indicated they would be willing to pay more for milk produced from cows raised without antibiotics. Respondents who believed that antibiotic use in dairy farming posed a moderate to high threat to human health were more likely to be female and report willingness to pay more for milk or not purchase milk. Additionally, consumers' willingness to pay more for milk from cattle raised without antibiotics was associated with the belief that antibiotic use posed some threat to human health, the belief that cows are treated better on organic dairy farms, an annual household income of $50,000 or greater, being born outside the United States, having a liberal social ideology, and being currently or formerly married. These results suggest that the general public's decisions as consumers of dairy products are associated with demographic factors in addition to perceptions of antibiotic use and cattle treatment in dairy farming. The rationale behind such perceptions should be further explored to facilitate consumers' informed decision making about antibiotic use in agriculture, links to cattle treatment, and associated willingness-to-pay attitudes.

Perceptions of antibiotic use in rural Cambodian farming communities

Perceptions of antibiotic use in rural Cambodian farming communities

Perceptions regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among adult hospital patients in Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals

BackgroundEducation, a key strategy within antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs), has been mainly directed towards healthcare professionals and prescribers more than hospitalised patients. AimTo examine patients’ knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance, while evaluating the institutional role of patient education on antibiotic use in two Saudi Arabian hospitals, one with an implemented ASP and one without an ASP. MethodA cross-sectional self-administered survey was developed and piloted. A total of 400 surveys were distributed, 200 within the hospital with an ASP and another 200 within the hospital without an ASP. Data were coded and analysed. Ethical approval was obtained before the start of the study. Findings176 patients responded to the survey with 150 surveys completed and analysed. 78% of patients agreed that they should only take an antibiotic when prescribed by the doctor, however they still tended to keep left over antibiotics for future use. 84% of patients were unaware ‘antibiotic resistance’, with 48% believing that antibiotics help them get better quicker when they had a ‘cold’. Information on antibiotic use and resistance were provided to patients in the hospital with an ASP in contrast to the hospital without an ASP. ConclusionOverall there are poor perceptions regarding antibiotic use and resistance among hospital patients in Saudi Arabia. Patients in the hospital with ASP demonstrated greater knowledge during their hospitalisation. ASPs should not only focus on educating healthcare professionals but should involve the patients and seize the opportunity to educate them while hospitalised.

Perceptions of antibiotic use in livestock farming in Germany, Italy and the United States

The use of antibiotics in livestock farming has been a common practice for many years. As one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance, posing serious threats to animal health, human health and food security, a change in this application practice is needed. However, antibiotics play a crucial role in disease management and control in animal farming, which highlights their relevance to both animal welfare and food safety. The general public in many countries is becoming aware of the problem of antibiotic resistance in pathogens and the contributing role of livestock to its proliferation. Nevertheless, little is known about how the public in different countries reacts to this knowledge and how they evaluate different strategies to combat this threat. The current study analyzes public perception of antibiotic use in livestock farming in three different countries, while considering differentiating advantages and disadvantages of antibiotic treatment of farm animals. A total of 2,670 subjects responded to an online questionnaire in Germany (n=894), Italy (n=887) and the United States (n=889). Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with several statements on bipolar 7-point Likert-scales. Three factors were extracted using principal component analysis (total variance explained: 59.59%, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy = 0.915, Bartletts’ test of sphericity<0.001). According to the average attitudes bundled in factor one (“Antibiotic use as a threat to human health”), participants in all three samples perceived significant human health risks with antibiotic use in animal farming, with the German participants as the most skeptical, followed by Italian and then US participants. The “Advantages of antibiotic use in livestock farming” (factor two) were perceived only by the US sample, whereas participants from the other two countries were on average more skeptical about the existence of positive impacts such as improved food safety and animal welfare. A “Justified use of antibiotics” (factor three) was on average doubted by participants in all three countries, with the German participants again being most critical. Regarding the treatment of different animal species (for dairy cattle, fattening pigs and broilers), participants in all three countries believed that antibiotics are used even if the animals are not really sick and that the whole herd, instead of individual animals, are treated even if just a few animals display symptoms of a disease. Moreover, the respondents tied antibiotic use with attempts to increase the growth rate of animals rather than to solely treat certain diseases. These results illustrate the significant criticism to the livestock sector by the surveyed participants.

New York State dairy farmers' perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance: A qualitative interview study.

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem affecting both human and animal health. Ensuring the strategic and effective use of antibiotics is paramount to combatting the emergence and spread of resistance. This study explored New York State (NYS) dairy farmers’ perceptions regarding antibiotic use in dairy farming and antibiotic resistance. Dairy farmers’ perceptions were assessed through semi-structured, in-person interviews. Twenty interviews with farm owners and/or managers of 15 conventional and five USDA certified organic dairy farms with 40 to 2,300 lactating cows were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to assess, compare and contrast transcripts for farmers’ characterization of their beliefs, values, and concerns. Conventional dairy farmers had a low level of concern about the possible impacts of on-farm antibiotic resistance on human health and believed their antibiotic use was already judicious. Generally, they believed their cattle’s health would suffer if antibiotic use were further curtailed. Conventional farmers expressed frustration over the possibility of more stringent governmental, milk cooperative, buyer, or marketer requirements for antibiotic use and associated animal welfare in the future. They attributed expanding regulations in part to misinformed consumer preferences, that farmers felt were influenced by the marketing of organic dairy products. Organic dairy farmers were generally more concerned about issues related to antibiotic resistance than conventional farmers. Both conventional and organic farmers placed emphasis on disease prevention through herd health management rather than treatment. In conclusion, the conventional NYS dairy farmers in this study were skeptical of the need for and benefits of reduced antibiotic use on their dairy farms. Interventions for farmers, delivered by a trusted source such as a veterinarian, that provide training about proper antibiotic use practices and information of possible financial benefits of refining antibiotic use may hold promise.