Antibiotic Stewardship and Science Communication for Veterinary Professionals

Course overview

The World Health Organization has classified antimicrobial resistance a top global public health concern that requires a one health approach. As a vital link between animal and human health, veterinarians serve as guardians of responsible antibiotic use and stewardship practices, preserving the efficacy of medically important antibiotics used for pets and food-producing animals. It is therefore crucial that they be equipped with the communication skills required to educate their clients on appropriate antibiotic use. The goal of this self-paced, online course is to increase veterinary professionals knowledge and skills for effective science communication to help mitigate the threat of antibiotic resistance. The course comprises of four online modules of interactive learning. These are: 1. Antibiotic Resistance in Professional and Social Settings 2. Communication Strategies in Clinical Settings to Assist in Mitigating Antibiotic Resistance 3. Common Challenging Scenarios and 4. Future Communication Strategies for Antibiotic Stewardship Each module will take approximately 15 - 20 minutes to complete (total time 60 minutes) Learning Objectives: By the end of the course, participants will be able to: 1. Explain key concepts related to antibiotic resistance and its impact on animal and human health. 2. Discuss principles of antibiotic stewardship and identify practical steps to implement stewardship practices for better health outcomes. 3. Identify essential elements of strong science communication and practical approaches (such as SODAPOP and GETSMART) to engage clients in a conversation about antibiotic use. 4. Recognize communication barriers in client interaction about antibiotic treatment and address their root causes 5. Practice applying contrasting communication approaches to challenging scenarios encountered in veterinary practice and evaluate their effectiveness in meeting communication goals. 6. Integrate learned principles of science communication and antibiotic stewardship in a practice scenario to identify communication barriers, build trust, address antibiotic resistance and encourage education and informed decision-making.