# Veterinarians’ Perspectives on the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Dashboard: A Survey of Needs and Preferences to Inform Development

## TL;DR

U.S. veterinarians want a collaborative AMR dashboard with educational resources and data to help manage antibiotic resistance in animals and humans.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific needs and preferences of U.S. veterinarians for a new AMR dashboard to guide its development.

## Key findings

- Over 75% of veterinarians emphasized the need for antimicrobial stewardship education and surveillance data in the dashboard.
- Most respondents preferred the dashboard to be managed by veterinary colleges, diagnostic labs, and federal agencies.
- Over 70% were comfortable sharing de-identified animal data for the dashboard.

## Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to animal and human health. Between January and March 2024, U.S. veterinarians were surveyed to understand their needs and preferences for a new online tool, called an AMR dashboard, which can help track and manage resistance. We found that veterinarians strongly desire a dashboard that offers educational content, guidance on antibiotic use, and data for surveillance and treatment decisions. They prefer that this dashboard be managed collaboratively by veterinary colleges, diagnostic labs, and federal agencies, such as the USDA, CDC, and FDA, with data shared in a way that protects privacy. This indicates a clear demand for a reliable, centralized system. Future steps involve (a) conducting further research with diverse animal health stakeholders and (b) piloting a prototype dashboard with key partners, to ensure the system is practical, trustworthy, and widely adopted, ultimately improving animal and public health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global threat to human and animal health, necessitating robust surveillance and stewardship tools. While existing systems address aspects of veterinary AMR, a comprehensive, user-centric dashboard for U.S. veterinarians remains a critical unmet need. This study aimed to identify U.S. veterinarians’ preferences and perceived needs for such a dashboard, to help guide its design and development. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2024, targeting U.S. veterinarians through professional channels. The survey instrument captured demographics, experiences with existing tools, preferences for data types and visualizations, desired technical specifications, and open-ended feedback. Of the 677 respondents, a near-unanimous consensus (over 75%) emerged on the importance of functionalities like antimicrobial stewardship education, off-label use guidance, surveillance data, and empirical treatment support. Over 70% expressed comfort sharing aggregated geographic and de-identified animal data. A strong preference was observed for making the dashboard accessible by veterinary colleges (78.87%), diagnostic laboratories (72.61%), and federal agencies (USDA: 71.47%, CDC: 66.67%, FDA: 62.11%), indicating a desire for a collaborative, authoritative system. The findings provide a robust foundation for developing a U.S. veterinary AMR dashboard. Future phases should adopt an iterative, user-centered design, incorporating qualitative research with diverse stakeholders and piloting a prototype with preferred institutional partners. This approach will ensure a trusted, sustainable tool that effectively translates surveillance data into actionable insights for improved animal and public health.