Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches
Understanding farmers' behavior regarding disease control is essential to successfully implement behavior change interventions that improve uptake of best practices. A literature review was conducted to identify theoretical underpinnings, analytical methodologies, and key behavioral determinant...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.687699/full |
| _version_ | 1818894650549731328 |
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| author | Marit M. Biesheuvel Inge M. G. A. Santman-Berends Herman W. Barkema Caroline Ritter John Berezowski Maria Guelbenzu Jasmeet Kaler |
| author_facet | Marit M. Biesheuvel Inge M. G. A. Santman-Berends Herman W. Barkema Caroline Ritter John Berezowski Maria Guelbenzu Jasmeet Kaler |
| author_sort | Marit M. Biesheuvel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding farmers' behavior regarding disease control is essential to successfully implement behavior change interventions that improve uptake of best practices. A literature review was conducted to identify theoretical underpinnings, analytical methodologies, and key behavioral determinants that have been described to understand farmers' behavior in disease control and prevention on cattle farms. Overall, 166 peer-reviewed manuscripts from studies conducted in 27 countries were identified. In the past decade, there were increasing reports on farmers' motivators and barriers, but no indication of application of appropriate social science methods. Furthermore, the majority (58%) of reviewed studies lacked a theoretical framework in their study design. However, when a theoretical underpinning was applied, the Theory of Planned Behavior was most commonly used (14% of total). The complexity of factors impacting farmers' behavior was illustrated when mapping all described key constructs of the reviewed papers in behavior change frameworks, such as the socioecological framework and the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model. Constructs related to personal influences and relationships between farmers and veterinarians were overrepresented, whereas constructs related to other interpersonal and contextual environments were not extensively studied. There was a general lack of use of validated scales to measure constructs and empirically validated theoretical frameworks to understand and predict farmers' behavior. Furthermore, studies mainly focused on measurements of intention of stakeholder behavior rather than actual behavior, although the former is a poor predictor of the latter. Finally, there is still a lack of robust evidence of behavior change interventions or techniques that result in a successful change in farmers' behavior. We concluded that for a sustainable behavior change, studies should include wider constructs at individual, interpersonal, and contextual levels. Furthermore, the use of empirically validated constructs and theoretical frameworks is encouraged. By using coherent frameworks, researchers could link constructs to design interventions, and thereby take the first step toward theory-driven, evidence-based interventions to influence farmers' behavior for disease control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:31:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46e09bace142467aa3a83d0090f7a332 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:31:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-46e09bace142467aa3a83d0090f7a3322022-12-21T20:10:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692021-12-01810.3389/fvets.2021.687699687699Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and ApproachesMarit M. Biesheuvel0Inge M. G. A. Santman-Berends1Herman W. Barkema2Caroline Ritter3John Berezowski4Maria Guelbenzu5Jasmeet Kaler6Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaResearch and Development Epidemiology, Royal GD, Deventer, NetherlandsDepartment of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, CanadaSchotland's Rural College, Inverness, United KingdomVeterinary Sciences Division, Agri Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, IrelandSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United KingdomUnderstanding farmers' behavior regarding disease control is essential to successfully implement behavior change interventions that improve uptake of best practices. A literature review was conducted to identify theoretical underpinnings, analytical methodologies, and key behavioral determinants that have been described to understand farmers' behavior in disease control and prevention on cattle farms. Overall, 166 peer-reviewed manuscripts from studies conducted in 27 countries were identified. In the past decade, there were increasing reports on farmers' motivators and barriers, but no indication of application of appropriate social science methods. Furthermore, the majority (58%) of reviewed studies lacked a theoretical framework in their study design. However, when a theoretical underpinning was applied, the Theory of Planned Behavior was most commonly used (14% of total). The complexity of factors impacting farmers' behavior was illustrated when mapping all described key constructs of the reviewed papers in behavior change frameworks, such as the socioecological framework and the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model. Constructs related to personal influences and relationships between farmers and veterinarians were overrepresented, whereas constructs related to other interpersonal and contextual environments were not extensively studied. There was a general lack of use of validated scales to measure constructs and empirically validated theoretical frameworks to understand and predict farmers' behavior. Furthermore, studies mainly focused on measurements of intention of stakeholder behavior rather than actual behavior, although the former is a poor predictor of the latter. Finally, there is still a lack of robust evidence of behavior change interventions or techniques that result in a successful change in farmers' behavior. We concluded that for a sustainable behavior change, studies should include wider constructs at individual, interpersonal, and contextual levels. Furthermore, the use of empirically validated constructs and theoretical frameworks is encouraged. By using coherent frameworks, researchers could link constructs to design interventions, and thereby take the first step toward theory-driven, evidence-based interventions to influence farmers' behavior for disease control.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.687699/fullinfectious diseasefarmersveterinarianscattlebehavioral determinants |
| spellingShingle | Marit M. Biesheuvel Inge M. G. A. Santman-Berends Herman W. Barkema Caroline Ritter John Berezowski Maria Guelbenzu Jasmeet Kaler Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches Frontiers in Veterinary Science infectious disease farmers veterinarians cattle behavioral determinants |
| title | Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches |
| title_full | Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches |
| title_short | Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches |
| title_sort | understanding farmers behavior and their decision making process in the context of cattle diseases a review of theories and approaches |
| topic | infectious disease farmers veterinarians cattle behavioral determinants |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.687699/full |
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