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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Perceptions of vulnerability to a future outbreak: a study o...
BMC veterinary research2013; 9; 152; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-152

Perceptions of vulnerability to a future outbreak: a study of horse managers affected by the first Australian equine influenza outbreak.

Abstract: A growing body of work shows the benefits of applying social cognitive behavioural theory to investigate infection control and biosecurity practices. Protection motivation theory has been used to predict protective health behaviours. The theory outlines that a perception of a lack of vulnerability to a disease contributes to a reduced threat appraisal, which results in poorer motivation, and is linked to poorer compliance with advised health protective behaviours. This study, conducted following the first-ever outbreak of equine influenza in Australia in 2007, identified factors associated with horse managers' perceived vulnerability to a future equine influenza outbreak. Results: Of the 200 respondents, 31.9% perceived themselves to be very vulnerable, 36.6% vulnerable and 31.4% not vulnerable to a future outbreak of equine influenza. Multivariable logistic regression modelling revealed that managers involved in horse racing and those on rural horse premises perceived themselves to have low levels of vulnerability. Managers of horse premises that experienced infection in their horses in 2007 and those seeking infection control information from specific sources reported increased levels of perceived vulnerability to a future outbreak. Conclusions: Different groups across the horse industry perceived differing levels of vulnerability to a future outbreak. Increased vulnerability contributes to favourable infection control behaviour and hence these findings are important for understanding uptake of recommended infection control measures. Future biosecurity communication strategies should be delivered through information sources suitable for the horse racing and rural sectors.
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Publication Date: 2013-07-31 PubMed ID: 23902718PubMed Central: PMC3737030DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-152Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study examines the perception of horse managers in Australia regarding their vulnerability to a future outbreak of equine influenza, following an outbreak in 2007. The findings suggest that perception of vulnerability varies across the industry, with implications for biosecurity and infection control measures.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of vulnerability among horse managers in Australia following the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza. Specifically, it aimed to identify factors related to perceived vulnerability to a future outbreak.
  • An underlying concept of this study is the Protection Motivation Theory, which predicts that a perceived lack of vulnerability to a disease can lead to poorer motivation for health protection behaviours and consequently poorer compliance with these behaviours.
  • Researchers collected data from 200 respondents, querying their perception of vulnerability to a future outbreak of equine influenza and analyzing these responses in relation to variables such as the nature of their involvement in the horse industry, geographical location, and their information-seeking behaviours regarding infection control.

Key Findings

  • Overall, 31.9% of respondents perceived themselves to be very vulnerable to a future outbreak, while 36.6% felt vulnerable and 31.4% did not feel vulnerable.
  • Those involved in horse racing and those operating in rural areas reported lower levels of perceived vulnerability.
  • Managers who had experienced an equine influenza infection in their horses in 2007, and those who actively sought information from specific sources, reported increased levels of perceived vulnerability.

Implications and Conclusions

  • Perception of vulnerability plays a crucial role in the effectiveness and adoption of infection control measures. Those who feel more vulnerable are likely to display favourable infection control behaviour.
  • This study identified potential gaps in infection control behaviour, particularly in the horse racing and rural sectors, which reported lower levels of perceived vulnerability. Therefore, biosecurity communication strategies need to adapt their delivery methods to suit these sectors better.
  • The researchers concluded that understanding these perceptions among different groups can help in improving the uptake of recommended infection control measures, thereby reducing the risk of future outbreaks.

Cite This Article

APA
Schemann K, Firestone SM, Taylor MR, Toribio JA, Ward MP, Dhand NK. (2013). Perceptions of vulnerability to a future outbreak: a study of horse managers affected by the first Australian equine influenza outbreak. BMC Vet Res, 9, 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-152

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 152

Researcher Affiliations

Schemann, Kathrin
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
Firestone, Simon M
    Taylor, Melanie R
      Toribio, Jenny-Ann L M L
        Ward, Michael P
          Dhand, Navneet K

            MeSH Terms

            • Adult
            • Animal Husbandry
            • Animals
            • Attitude to Health
            • Australia / epidemiology
            • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
            • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
            • Horses
            • Humans
            • Interviews as Topic
            • Logistic Models
            • Male
            • Middle Aged
            • Motivation
            • Multivariate Analysis
            • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
            • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
            • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
            • Surveys and Questionnaires

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 6 times.
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