Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices

Farmers play an integral role in minimizing disease threats and managing ongoing diseases on their farms. Various environmental factors influence the decision-making processes of farmers. Deciphering the mental models of farmers allows us to understand the motivations and reasons behind disease prev...

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Main Authors: Yong, Suit B., Hassan, Latiffah, Krauss, Steven Eric, Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah, Ooi, Peck Toung, Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin, Epstein, Jonathan H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2020
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/1/38135.pdf
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author Yong, Suit B.
Hassan, Latiffah
Krauss, Steven Eric
Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah
Ooi, Peck Toung
Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin
Epstein, Jonathan H.
author_facet Yong, Suit B.
Hassan, Latiffah
Krauss, Steven Eric
Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah
Ooi, Peck Toung
Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin
Epstein, Jonathan H.
author_sort Yong, Suit B.
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Farmers play an integral role in minimizing disease threats and managing ongoing diseases on their farms. Various environmental factors influence the decision-making processes of farmers. Deciphering the mental models of farmers allows us to understand the motivations and reasons behind disease prevention and control choices. This study aimed to explore the mental models of cattle farmers in implementing disease prevention and control practices. Using qualitative in-depth, semi-structured interviews, seven cattle farmers from a university’s foster farm extension program were sampled. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results revealed 23 dimensions comprising the mental model of cattle farmers. The dimensions were conceptualized under four major themes. Farmers were most influenced by perceived risk of disease, perceived effectiveness and benefits of disease prevention and control practices, experience, knowledge and emotions, subjective norms and perceived economic loss. The decision-making processes of farmers are complex and are influenced by various factors. While additional research is needed to confirm the findings using quantitative methods and larger sample sizes, insights gained from the study can be used as inputs to tailor communication and training strategies for improved disease prevention and control interventions.
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spelling upm-381352020-05-03T22:55:52Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/ Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices Yong, Suit B. Hassan, Latiffah Krauss, Steven Eric Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah Ooi, Peck Toung Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin Epstein, Jonathan H. Farmers play an integral role in minimizing disease threats and managing ongoing diseases on their farms. Various environmental factors influence the decision-making processes of farmers. Deciphering the mental models of farmers allows us to understand the motivations and reasons behind disease prevention and control choices. This study aimed to explore the mental models of cattle farmers in implementing disease prevention and control practices. Using qualitative in-depth, semi-structured interviews, seven cattle farmers from a university’s foster farm extension program were sampled. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results revealed 23 dimensions comprising the mental model of cattle farmers. The dimensions were conceptualized under four major themes. Farmers were most influenced by perceived risk of disease, perceived effectiveness and benefits of disease prevention and control practices, experience, knowledge and emotions, subjective norms and perceived economic loss. The decision-making processes of farmers are complex and are influenced by various factors. While additional research is needed to confirm the findings using quantitative methods and larger sample sizes, insights gained from the study can be used as inputs to tailor communication and training strategies for improved disease prevention and control interventions. MDPI 2020 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/1/38135.pdf Yong, Suit B. and Hassan, Latiffah and Krauss, Steven Eric and Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah and Ooi, Peck Toung and Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin and Epstein, Jonathan H. (2020) Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices. Veterinary Sciences, 7 (1). art. no. 27. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2306-7381 https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/7/1/27 10.3390/vetsci7010027
spellingShingle Yong, Suit B.
Hassan, Latiffah
Krauss, Steven Eric
Ramanoon, Siti Zubaidah
Ooi, Peck Toung
Abd. Rahaman, Nor Yasmin
Epstein, Jonathan H.
Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title_full Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title_fullStr Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title_short Exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
title_sort exploring the mental model of cattle farmers in disease prevention and control practices
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38135/1/38135.pdf