Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of livestock farmers on antibiotic use: questionnaire development and reliability assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0231.47323Keywords:
antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic use; One Health; livestock farmers; questionnaire reliabilityAbstract
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rising global public health problem. Its mitigation requires a «One Health» approach, and livestock farmers have a key role in ensuring animal health and welfare and in promoting antibiotic stewardship.
Objective: To develop and assess the reliability of a questionnaire as an instrument to capture livestock farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AMR and antibiotic use.
Methods: A methodological study focused on assessing the reliability of a questionnaire consisting of three sections and developed based on a comprehensive review of the literature. Between January and February 2026, livestock producers working with cattle, swine, and/or small ruminants were recruited in the Central region of Portugal. A test-retest was conducted with an interval of 2 to 3 weeks. Reproducibility was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC; 95% confidence interval), and internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha.
Results: In total, 10 farmers completed the study. Two sections with Likert scale items were assessed for reliability, and most items (23 out of 27) showed ICC>0.4, demonstrating overall good reproducibility. Good internal consistency was demonstrated by Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.833 and 0.765 for test and retest, respectively.
Conclusion: The developed questionnaire is a reliable tool to collect livestock farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on AMR and antibiotic use.
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