Finnish producer perceptions of medication safety in sows: a qualitative study

Medication is essential for maintaining health and promoting welfare in production animals. A complex medication management and use process (MMU process) in herds may contribute to medication safety risks, which can lead to errors in medication use. However, these issues are largely unstudied. This study aimed to identify risks and defenses related to the sow MMU process, including medication instructions, herd health visits, assessments of the need for medical treatment for sows, administering and recording medication use, treatment monitoring, record-keeping, and medication error monitoring. Risks were identified as factors that compromise safe medication use, while defenses referred to practices that prevent errors and support safety. A convenience sample of 14 Finnish sow herds having 150-1,150 sows was recruited for the study in spring 2023. Using a semi-structured interview guide, the researcher visited the herds and interviewed the person responsible for sow medications. A qualitative abductive content analysis integrating both inductive and deductive components revealed key risks and defenses in the MMU process for sows at the herd level. Risks included poor adherence to medication instructions, difficulty assessing the need for medical treatment, inadequate monitoring practices, and flawed medication record-keeping. Defenses included clear medication instructions, adequate veterinary support, effective diagnostic methods, and competence in administering medication, including proper sow handling and administration skills. Despite the limited sample size and the context-specific nature of the data, the results suggest that improving communication, providing proper staff training, and developing documentation practices could lead to safer, more effective medication use in sows.