Clark Beth, Proctor Amy, Mahon Niamh, Holloway Lewis
Centre for Rural Economy, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Jan 17;11:1258906. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1258906. eCollection 2024.
This paper applies the COM-B framework to farmer and farm advisor understandings and responses to lameness in sheep, beef, and dairy systems. It reflects on how farmers' and advisors' capability, opportunity, and motivation (COM-B) influence lameness management practices in these farming systems, and considers the interaction between these three factors, and stakeholders' behavior.
Interviews with 29 farmers and 21 farm advisors in the north of England were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken with results categorized in relation to the COM-B framework focusing on barriers and enablers of lameness management. Use of the COM-B model provides a useful means of understanding the underlying behavioral mechanisms that contribute toward the persistence of lameness. This includes the complexities and interactions which hamper implementation of lameness management best practice.
The findings highlight three key areas to address with interventions to improve lameness management on farm: (1) removing physical and social barriers for lameness management; (2) improving psychological capability and motivation for lameness management; and (3) facilitating relationships and developing communication between farmers and advisors. In particular, the value of exploring both farmer and advisor perspectives on behavior in the animal health context is demonstrated. Future interventions should look to target these three areas to overcome barriers and focus on factors that enable positive lameness practices to occur.
本文将COM-B框架应用于农民和农场顾问对绵羊、肉牛和奶牛养殖系统中跛足问题的理解及应对措施。文中探讨了农民和顾问的能力、机会和动机（COM-B）如何影响这些养殖系统中的跛足管理实践，并考虑了这三个因素之间的相互作用以及利益相关者的行为。
对英格兰北部的29位农民和21位农场顾问进行了访谈。采用主题分析法，根据COM-B框架对结果进行分类，重点关注跛足管理的障碍和促进因素。使用COM-B模型为理解导致跛足持续存在的潜在行为机制提供了一种有用的方法。这包括阻碍跛足管理最佳实践实施的复杂性和相互作用。
研究结果突出了在农场干预中改善跛足管理需要解决的三个关键领域：（1）消除跛足管理的物理和社会障碍；（2）提高跛足管理的心理能力和动机；（3）促进农民和顾问之间的关系并加强沟通。特别是，展示了在动物健康背景下探索农民和顾问对行为的看法的价值。未来的干预措施应着眼于针对这三个领域来克服障碍，并关注促使积极的跛足管理实践发生的因素。
