Decision making on antimicrobial use: Cat and dog owners’ knowledge and preferences for veterinary communication

Frey, Erin; Kedrowicz, April; Hedgpeth, Mari‐Wells

doi:10.1002/vetr.3411

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(118 reference statements)

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“…In fact, Stallwood et al (2019) [49] obtained a percentage of cat owners as high as 84% who correctly recognized bacteria as the true microorganism upon which antibiotics act. High percentages were also obtained by Scarborough et al (2021) [41] and Frey et al in 2023 [52]. On the other hand, Taylor and Walter's study from 2022 [53], which focused on Colorado pet owners' perceptions of antimicrobial drug use, reflected comparable poor knowledge on the subject, as approximately 40% of their participants revealed a lack of familiarity with antibiotics' ineffectiveness against viruses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Further to this, Stein et al (2021) [ 39 ] revealed that the importance of an antimicrobial for treating people was the lowest priority for dog owners in North America, as compared to the cost and ease of administration. Frey et al (2023) [ 52 ] demonstrated that pet owners’ expectations related to antimicrobial use in their pets vary with their knowledge of antimicrobial usefulness and with the recognition of the implications of antimicrobial resistance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Companion Animal Owners’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal

Dias,

Alpizar-Jara,

Lavrador

et al. 2024

Antibiotics

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While multiple studies have focused on the motivations surrounding antibiotic prescription among veterinarians, little is known about companion animal owners’ knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) regarding the topic. A nationwide survey directed toward Portuguese dog and cat owners was conducted online and at veterinary practices to characterize their KAP regarding antibiotics. After database curation, a total of 423 valid submissions were considered. Although 97.9% of respondents stated that they knew what an antibiotic was, 23.5% and 19.2% answered that they were used to treat viral and fungal infections, respectively. Antimicrobial effectiveness was favored over cost when 87.7% of owners agreed they would prefer to spend more money to identify the appropriate antibiotic. Around 87% of respondents recognized antibiotic resistance as a significant health problem and 74.6% strongly agreed/somewhat agreed that antibiotic use in pets may contribute to resistance development. However, only 25.3% recognized that this could promote resistance dissemination, showing little awareness of the interconnection between human and animal health. Moreover, 55.6% of respondents were neutral when asked whether antibiotics used in veterinary medicine were also important for humans. These findings suggest that communication between veterinarians and pet owners can still be improved to further clarify the impact that antibiotic use has in pets from a One-Health perspective, also enabling antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Animal Owners’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal

Dias,

Alpizar-Jara,

Lavrador

et al. 2024

Antibiotics

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Understanding Antimicrobial Prescription Practices: Insights from Small Animal Veterinarians in North Macedonia

Shikoska,

Cvetkovikj,

Nikolovski

et al. 2024

Macedonian Veterinary Review

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global concern in small animal veterinary practices. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in companion animals can contribute to the spread of AMR between animals and humans. This study aimed to assess small animal veterinarians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in North Macedonia. A web-based questionnaire was developed, including questions addressing demographics, owner influence on antibiotic prescription and prescribing practices. The response rate of the small animal veterinarians was 47.50% (57/120), with most of them (84.20%) having 1-15 years of work experience. Pearson’s chi-square test of independence was used for contingency tables that met the chi-square assumption, and Fisher’s exact test was conducted for contingency tables that did not. Most veterinarians responded that they had perceived pressure and direct demands from pet owners to prescribe antimicrobials (35.09% frequently, 45.61% occasionally). In the survey, 50.77% of the veterinarians reported frequently administering antibiotics without conducting bacteriological or antimicrobial susceptibility testing. They typically resorted to these tests in cases with recurrent infections, such as skin infections (19.63%), or when empirical therapy is ineffective (14.72%). Based on the findings, it can be concluded that veterinarians play a crucial role in tackling the AMR in North Macedonia. The lack of stewardship programs or guidelines for responsible antimicrobial use in companion animals is a critical issue that requires urgent attention, emphasizing the vital role of veterinarians in combating AMR.

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Veterinary Students Underestimate Cat and Dog Owner Adherence and Knowledge Regarding Antimicrobial Use and Resistance

Frey,

Kedrowicz,

Hedgpeth

2023

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education

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The purpose of this study was to explore students’ perceptions related to cat and dog owners’ (a) knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance, (b) expectations and preferences related to antibiotic use, and (c) preferences and experiences related to veterinarian–client communication preferences and experiences. This project compared students’ responses to those provided by cat and dog owners in a previous study. Because that prior research suggested that students’ perceptions can shift over time, we also explored whether progression throughout the DVM curriculum impacted students’ views of cat and dog owners. DVM students ( n = 584) from seven schools in the Southeastern Veterinary Education Consortium completed an online survey based on prior research of cat and dog owner behavior and preferences. Results indicate that DVM students overestimate cat and dog owner's expectations for antibiotics and underestimate cat and dog owners’ adherence to veterinary directions for antibiotic use. Similarly, fewer DVM students than cat and dog owners agreed that veterinary communication about antibiotics, their side effects, and their cost occurs during visits with a sick pet. Where significant, more students in later DVM class years had a positive view about client knowledge/adherence and veterinary communication. This lack of confidence in clients’ knowledge and competence and in the quality of veterinarian–client communication indicates a need to educate students on their perceptions of veterinary–client communications, as well as reinforcing that clients generally listen and trust veterinarians’ recommendations regarding antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship.

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Decision making on antimicrobial use: Cat and dog owners’ knowledge and preferences for veterinary communication

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Companion Animal Owners’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal

Companion Animal Owners’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal

Understanding Antimicrobial Prescription Practices: Insights from Small Animal Veterinarians in North Macedonia

Veterinary Students Underestimate Cat and Dog Owner Adherence and Knowledge Regarding Antimicrobial Use and Resistance

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