This study is the first systematic evaluation of the association between shared decision-making (SDM) and appropriate antibiotic prescriptions for pets in veterinary clinics in Singapore. It identifies key factors influencing SDM using the VALUE model, offering theoretical support for optimizing decision-making in the context of antimicrobial resistance management (AMR).
Literature Overview
This article, titled 'Shared Decision-Making in Veterinary Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Its Impact on Appropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions and Associated Value-Driven Factors,' published in the journal Antibiotics, reviews and summarizes the impact of SDM on antibiotic prescription practices in veterinary clinics and explores key factors influencing SDM. The study constructs a theoretical framework based on the VALUE model and investigates prescription behaviors and decision-making mechanisms among 41 veterinarians working in Singapore veterinary clinics.
Background Knowledge
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global health threat, potentially causing millions of deaths annually by 2050. Although existing research shows that shared decision-making (SDM) can improve antibiotic prescription practices in human primary care, its application in veterinary medicine remains unclear. This study fills that gap by systematically analyzing the impact of SDM on antibiotic prescriptions in veterinary clinics and exploring how dimensions such as value alignment, communication competence, and organizational culture within the VALUE model facilitate SDM. It also highlights the need for veterinary clinics to enhance communication with pet owners to improve prescription appropriateness, especially in common conditions such as periodontal disease and ear infections.
Research Methods and Experiments
This study employed a cross-sectional design, conducting online surveys with 41 veterinarians in Singapore. The adapted SDM-Q-9-Doc scale was used to assess shared decision-making practices between veterinarians and pet owners in antibiotic prescriptions. Additionally, a measurement tool based on the VALUE model was developed to analyze potential factors influencing SDM. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between SDM and the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions.
Key Conclusions and Perspectives
Research Significance and Prospects
This study is the first to systematically examine the role of SDM in improving antibiotic prescription appropriateness within veterinary clinics. It demonstrates that the effectiveness of SDM varies depending on clinical context. Future research should expand sample sizes to validate the findings across different regions and animal models. It should also explore how organizational culture, value alignment, and communication training can promote SDM, thereby advancing antimicrobial resistance management in veterinary medicine.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that while most veterinarians exhibit appropriate antibiotic prescription behaviors in daily practice, shared decision-making (SDM) shows positive effects in periodontal disease management but may be counterproductive in urinary tract infection prescriptions. Value alignment and communication competence within the VALUE model are key drivers of SDM, suggesting that veterinary clinics can enhance prescription appropriateness by aligning internal culture with pet owner expectations. Further studies should focus on optimizing organizational environments and aligning individual values to foster effective communication between veterinarians and pet owners, thus promoting sustainable improvements in antibiotic management within veterinary practice.
