Understanding antimicrobial use by equine owners in Wales: Using cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews.
Authors: Stuart Rebekah B, Miles-Farrier Fleur, Bard Alison M, Rees Gwen
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Antimicrobial Use in Welsh Horse Owners Antimicrobial resistance poses a mounting threat to both equine and human health, yet knowledge gaps persist regarding how horse owners actually administer antibiotics on the ground. Stuart and colleagues addressed this deficit through mixed-methods research combining a cross-sectional survey with semi-structured interviews of equine owners across Wales, generating both quantitative prevalence data and qualitative insight into decision-making processes around antimicrobial use. The qualitative component proved particularly valuable; owners' reasoning behind antibiotic administration—informed by factors ranging from veterinary advice to perceived cost-benefit calculations and previous experience—emerged as a crucial but previously underexplored dimension of the AMR problem in equine practice. These findings carry direct implications for designing stewardship interventions: generic messaging about responsible antibiotic use is unlikely to succeed without understanding the contextual and often pragmatic drivers of owner behaviour, suggesting that vets, farriers and other equine professionals must tailor their communication around antimicrobials to address specific owner beliefs and barriers rather than assuming non-compliance stems from simple ignorance. This research provides the evidence base necessary for developing nuanced, owner-centred approaches to reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use in horses and, by extension, slowing the development and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding owner attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial use is essential for developing effective stewardship strategies that will reduce resistance while maintaining equine health
- •Future stewardship interventions should be evidence-based and tailored to equine owner beliefs and behaviors rather than generic approaches
- •Veterinarians working with horse owners should assess individual knowledge gaps and concerns about antimicrobial use to improve compliance with responsible use protocols
Key Findings
- •Study combines cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews to explore equine owners' antimicrobial use practices in Wales
- •Research addresses significant evidence gaps in qualitative understanding of equine owners' antibiotic use behaviors
- •Findings intended to inform design of evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship interventions and policies for equine sector