Dr Alison Bard
BSc, FdSc, PhD, Fellowship
Expertise
Current positions
Senior Research Associate
Bristol Veterinary School
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
Alison is a Senior Research Associate at the Bristol Veterinary School. Her PhD examined Motivational Interviewing (MI) and vet-client communication, providing a detailed picture of the current advisory and communication strategies employed by UK cattle vets in the pursuit of change and the feasibility of MI applied in this context. She has provided training in MI to animal health and welfare professionals both nationally and internationally and is passionate about enhancing the vet-farmer advisory experience.
Alison currently works within Bristol’s interdisciplinary research group focused on antimicrobial resistance (the ‘AMR Force’), pursuing her passion for understanding the complexities of vet and farmer behaviour and inspiring change in this professional context. As part of the Arwain DGC project, she supports delivery of a collaborative initiative to train and facilitate a network of Veterinary Prescribing Champions across Wales.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Arwain Vet Cymru: a National Veterinary Prescribing Champion Programme for Welsh Veterinary Practices
Role
Researcher
Description
What is the problem?
Antibiotic resistance, though a naturally occurring phenomenon, is exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Antibiotic stewardship is one of the key strategies with which we…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Veterinary SchoolDates
01/02/2021
Diagnostic innovation and livestock (DIAL): towards more effective and sustainable applications of antibiotics in livestock farming
Role
Researcher
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Veterinary SchoolDates
25/09/2017 to 24/09/2021
HOPE intervention development
Role
Researcher
Description
Development and feasibility of a motivational interviewing based intervention to support individuals at risk of self-harm due to financial difficultiesManaging organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/03/2016 to 31/10/2016
Prevention better than cure: Motivational interviewing as a means to decrease antimicrobial drug use in animal production
Role
Researcher
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Veterinary SchoolDates
20/01/2016
Improving dairy cattle welfare: promoting uptake of veterinary advice
Role
Student
Description
British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation : PhD Studentship
Norman Hayward FundManaging organisational unit
Bristol Veterinary SchoolDates
25/09/2014 to 24/09/2017
Publications
Selected publications
01/11/2019To change or not to change? Veterinarian and farmer perceptions of relational factors influencing the enactment of veterinary advice on dairy farms in the United Kingdom
Journal of Dairy Science
The future of veterinary communication
PLoS ONE
Training in motivational interviewing improves cattle veterinarians’ communication skills for herd health management
Veterinary Record
Recent publications
15/06/2024Dispensing antimicrobials to farmers in Wales
Veterinary Record
Regulating antimicrobial resistance: market intermediaries, poultry and the audit lock-in
Agriculture and Human Values
Clinician Motivational Interviewing skills in ‘simulated’ and ‘real-life’ consultations differ and show predictive validity for ‘real life’ client Change Talk under differing integrity thresholds
PeerJ Life & Environment
‘I Believe What I’m Saying More Than the Test’
Antibiotics
Validation, visibility, vagueness and variation
PLoS ONE
Thesis
Improving dairy cattle welfare
Supervisors
Award date
19/06/2018