Identifying good medication practices: veterinarians’ perceptions of safety defences in sows

Abstract Background In Finland, caretakers are allowed to initiate medical treatments for sick sows under veterinary guidance, as veterinarians may, under specific conditions, dispense medicines for later use on farms. The aim of this qualitative interview study was to explore veterinarians’ perceptions of medication safety in sows by identifying and characterizing safety defences, that is, the mechanisms and practices that promote safe medicine use on sows. A total of 15 veterinarians, who perform herd health visits on sow farms, participated in the study. The interviews were conducted online using Microsoft Teams, recorded, transcribed, and analysed through an abductive thematic analysis employing ATLAS.ti software. Results The interviewed veterinarians often found it challenging to identify good medication practices on farms. However, the analysis revealed eight key defence themes: (1) veterinary awareness and oversight; (2) comprehensive veterinary guidance; (3) effective communication and collaboration; (4) reliable medicine logistics; (5) hygienic and appropriate medication practices; (6) clinical examination and follow-up of sick sows; (7) pain and stress reduction during treatment; and (8) caretaker attitudes and farm resources. In addition to defences currently in practice, the interviews revealed four novel defence themes that could further improve medication safety on sow farms, comprising: (1) support and development of veterinary practices; (2) caretaker competence; (3) introduction of regulatory frameworks; and (4) self-monitoring and auditing practices. Conclusions The identified defences can inform the needed systems-based medication safety risk management actions for producers, veterinarians and policymakers. By understanding protective mechanisms, stakeholders can develop targeted protocols to enhance animal welfare and ensure responsible medicine use on sow farms.