Information delivery and the veterinarian-horse owner relationship in the context of Hendra virus in Australia.
Abstract: Hendra virus (HeV) is an emerging bat-borne virus endemic in Australia that can be transmitted from horses to humans and has a high fatality rate for horses and people. Controversy surrounding HeV risk mitigation measures have strained the veterinarian-horse owner relationship. This study aimed to characterise the veterinarian-horse owner relationship in general and also in the context of HeV by analysing data derived from the 'Horse Owners and Hendra Virus: A Longitudinal Study to Evaluate Risk' (HHALTER) study. Australian horse owners were recruited via emails, social media and word-of-mouth for a series of five surveys that were administered online at six-monthly intervals over a two-year period to capture baseline knowledge, attitudes and practices of horse owners regarding HeV and any changes over time. In the current study, descriptive analyses of information sources were performed to understand the use of veterinarians as a HeV information source (Surveys 1 and 5; n = 1195 and n = 617). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with the frequency of horse owner contact with a veterinarian (Survey 3; n = 636). This study found a relative increase over the study period in the proportion of horse owners who had used veterinarians as HeV information source in the last 12 months (from 51.9% to 88.3%). Owning more horses, being older, having a 'duty of care' for other people working with horses and deriving the main income from horse related business were factors associated with more frequent veterinary contact. Results suggest that traditional information sources such as workshops, information packs and risk training are likely to be used by horse owners. Smart phone applications should be considered for use in the future and require further investigation for horse health communication. The findings of this study may be helpful in optimising strategies for horse health information delivery.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2020-04-13 PubMed ID: 32339964DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.104988Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores the relationship between veterinarians and horse owners in Australia, particularly in contexts related to the Hendra virus (HeV). The research identifies a significant increase in the usage of veterinarians as a primary source of information about HeV and outlines factors influencing the frequency of contact with veterinarians.
About the Hendra Virus and the Study
- The Hendra virus is an endemic in Australia, transmitted from bats to horses, and from horses subsequently to humans. The virus carries a high risk of fatality among both horses and people.
- The “Horse Owners and Hendra Virus: A Longitudinal Study to Evaluate Risk” (HHALTER) study formed the foundation of this research. It spanned two years, surveilling attitudes, knowledge, and practices of horse owners about HeV.
Research Approach
- Participation in this study was solicited via emails, social media platforms, and referrals, with a series of five surveys administered online every six months.
- Descriptive and ordinal logistic regression analysis of survey data was performed to identify sources of information about HeV used by horse owners and to recognize factors impacting the frequency of interactions with veterinarians.
Key Findings
- The study noted that the usage of veterinarians as a source of HeV information increased over the study period from 51.9% to 88.3% among horse owners.
- Owning more horses, older age of horse owners, a sense of responsibility (‘duty of care’) towards other people interacting with horses, and having horse-related business as the main source of income were among the factors that influenced regular veterinary contact.
Future Suggestions
- The study proposes that traditional information sources like workshops, information packages, and risk training are likely to continue being utilized by horse owners.
- Care should be taken to investigate the potential use of smartphone applications for health communication about horses in the future, recognizing the prevalent use of technology in today’s connected world.
- The study’s results can be used to optimize strategies for effective health information delivery to horse owners.
Cite This Article
APA
Hii C, Dhand NK, Toribio JLML, Taylor MR, Wiethoelter A, Schembri N, Sawford K, Kung N, Moloney B, Wright T, Field H, Schemann K.
(2020).
Information delivery and the veterinarian-horse owner relationship in the context of Hendra virus in Australia.
Prev Vet Med, 179, 104988.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.104988 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Centre for Health Research, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Centre for Health Research, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, Australia.
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, Australia.
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, Australia.
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, USA; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: kathrin.schemann@sydney.edu.au.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Australia
- Female
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Hendra Virus / physiology
- Henipavirus Infections / psychology
- Henipavirus Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / psychology
- Horses
- Humans
- Information Dissemination
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Ownership
- Veterinarians / psychology
- Young Adult
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- McTigue FE, Mansbridge SC, Pyatt AZ. Equine Anthelmintic Resistance: Horse Owner and Yard Manager Perception of the Barriers Affecting Strategic Control Measures in England. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 11;9(10).
- Broms L, Boije Af Gennäs K, Radmann A, Hedenborg S. Accessibility, Agency, and Trust: A Study About Equestrians' (Online) Learning Repertoires. Front Sports Act Living 2022;4:863014.
- Knox A, Beddoe T. Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technologies for the Detection of Equine Viral Pathogens. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 20;11(7).
- Ward AB, Stephen K, Argo CM, Harris PA, Watson CA, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White DH, Morrison PK. COVID-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0252340.
- Boyd-Weetman J, Alam L, Dhungyel O, Muir WI. Perceptions of Sheep Farmers and District Veterinarians towards Sheep Disease Management in New South Wales, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 22;14(8).
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