Understanding veterinary drug shop workers' knowledge and practices to identify drivers of antibiotic use in Vietnamese livestock farms.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health issue and a major threat to animal and human health. Antibiotic use (ABU) drives AMR development, and several hotspots for ABU, and AMR, in livestock have been identified in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. There are often multiple drivers of ABU at farms, and to identify all of them there is a need to look beyond farm level. OBJECTIVES: The overall aim of this study was to identify routines and/or competencies, related to antibiotic sales, among veterinary drug shop workers that may be improved in order to decrease the medically non-rational use of antibiotics in livestock production. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted at 50 veterinary drug shops in northern Vietnam. RESULTS: Results showed high education and knowledge levels. According to the respondents, antibiotic treatment advice was almost always provided to the farmers, and the recommended treatment was most commonly based on recommendations for the specific disease. However, farmers had almost never had their animals properly diagnosed. Antibiotics were the most sold drug category, penicillins being the most common. Several broad-spectrum antibiotics were also quite frequently sold. Further, >50% of respondents recommended antibiotics for disease prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Even though education and knowledge levels might be high, several challenges can prevent drug shop workers from contributing to more prudent ABU at farms, for example, lack of proper diagnosis, commercial interests and individual farmer motives, often in combination with poor compliance to regulations.

Dispensing antimicrobials to farmers in Wales: The roles and experiences of veterinary practice staff.

BACKGROUND: Veterinary practice staff are directly involved in the dispensing of prescription veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) to farmers as prescribed by registered veterinary surgeons to animals 'under their care'. The role of veterinary practice staff has, to date, been underresearched. The objective of this study was to investigate the roles played by veterinary practice staff, exploring their expectations and perceptions of the front-of-house (FoH) role, their interactions with clients in day-to-day veterinary practice and their experiences relating to the dispensing of POM-Vs. METHODS: Thematic analysis was used to analyse data from 20 semi-structured interviews of veterinary practice staff. Participants were recruited from 80% of the large animal or mixed species veterinary practices across Wales. RESULTS: Four key themes-'piggy in the middle', learning on the job, practice organisation and facilitating change-were identified, illustrating the multifaceted and diverse nature of this type of employment. LIMITATIONS: This study is not intended to be representative of the perceptions of FoH staff on the dispensing of antimicrobials. Larger-scale studies are required to substantiate these findings. CONCLUSION: Understanding the roles of non-clinical veterinary staff allows practice managers and veterinary surgeons to better identify and meet training and staffing needs and improves recognition of this key area of practice work.

Prevalence of mental health symptoms in Austrian veterinarians and examination of influencing factors.

Although previous studies point to a high mental health burden in veterinarians, little is known about mental health in Austrian veterinarians as well as potential underlying factors of poor mental health. We assessed mental health in Austrian veterinarians, compared it to the mental health of the general population, and explored potential risk factors for poor mental health in veterinarians. A total of n = 440 veterinarians (72.0% women; mean age: 44.53 ± 11.25 years) took part in an online survey in 2022 in which validated screening tools for symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep disorders (ISI-2), perceived stress (PSS-4), and alcohol abuse (CAGE) were applied. Multivariable logistic regression revealed higher adjusted odds for exceeding cut-offs for clinically relevant depressive, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms in veterinarians (1.35-2.70) compared to the general population. Mental health symptoms in veterinarians were associated with female gender, physical inactivity, higher smartphone usage, higher working hours, less professional experience, and working with pets. In conclusion, it appears that veterinarians encounter mental health challenges that are more pronounced than those experienced in the general population. The teaching of strategies to improve mental hygiene as part of the curricula of veterinary education and targeted training and mentoring of employers and their team should be implemented to improve mental health in the veterinary profession.

Message from the President.

Anna Judson invites you to help us spotlight the incredible care that Team Vet provides.

A decade of amplifying your voice.

Since 2014, our Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey has played a pivotal role in supporting our campaigning and lobbying work, delivering insightful data, raising the profile of vets and their work through the media, driving legislative reform and shaping the profession.

A 'must-have' book for vets working with aquatic species.

Reviewed by Matthijs Metselaar, a specialist in fish health and production.