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Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 641448; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.641448

Potential and Challenges of Community-Based Surveillance in Animal Health: A Pilot Study Among Equine Owners in Switzerland.

Abstract: Animal owners' potential to observe and report clinical signs, as the persons with the closest contact to their animals, is an often neglected source of information in surveillance. Allowing community members other than health care professionals, such as animal owners, to report health events can contribute to close current surveillance gaps and enhance early detection. In the present study, we tested a community-based surveillance (CBS) approach in the equine community in Switzerland. We aimed at revealing the attitudes and intentions of equine owners toward reporting clinical signs by making use of an online questionnaire. We further set up and operated an online CBS tool, named Equi-Commun. Finally, we investigated potential reasons for the lack of its use by applying qualitative telephone interviews. The majority of the respondents of the online questionnaire (65.5%, 707/1,078) answered that they could see themselves reporting clinical observations of their equine. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that French-speaking equine owners and those belonging to the positive attitude cluster are more likely to report to a CBS tool. Equi-Commun operated between October 2018 and December 2019 yet received only four reports. With the addition of qualitative interviews, we identified three critical, interlinked issues that may have led to the non-use of Equi-Commun within the Swiss equine community: (1) for successfully implementing CBS, the need for surveillance within the community of interest must be given; (2) the respective population under surveillance, here the equine, needs to show enough clinical cases for owners to be able to maintain the memory of an existing tool and its possible use; and (3) targeted and high effort communication of the system is key for its success. While CBS relying only on lay animal owners, complementary to existing surveillance systems, could potentially provide a good proxy of timely surveillance data, it is questionable whether the added value of generated surveillance knowledge is in balance with efforts necessary to implement a successful system. With this study, we showcased both the potential and challenges of CBS in animal health, as this may be of relevance and guidance for future initiatives.
Copyright © 2021 Özçelik, Remy-Wohlfender, Küker, Visschers, Hadorn and Dürr.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-04 PubMed ID: 34150880PubMed Central: PMC8212947DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.641448Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research explores the potential of using community-based surveillance (CBS) in animal health, specifically within the Swiss equine community, and highlights the challenges facing such an initiative. The use of an online tool for equine owners to report health events was explored, with analysis of attitudes and intentions towards reporting, and potential reasons for non-use.

Methodology and Findings

The researchers conducted an online questionnaire to understand the attitudes and intentions of equine owners towards reporting clinical observations. They also set up and operated a CBS tool named Equi-Commun, and analyzed its use over a specific period. Lastly, they conducted qualitative telephone interviews to understand potential reasons for non-use of Equi-Commun.

  • A majority of the equine owners (65.5%) responded that they could see themselves reporting clinical observations of their equines.
  • The tendency to report to a CBS tool was influenced by language (with French-speaking owners more likely to report), and by a positive attitude toward the CBS approach.
  • Despite this, the Equi-Commun tool received only four reports over its operation period from October 2018 to December 2019.

Key Issues Leading to Non-Use

The researchers identified three interlinked critical issues that could have led to the non-use of Equi-Commun within the Swiss equine community.

  • The first issue emphasizes the importance of the community understanding the need for surveillance.
  • Secondly, the equine population under surveillance needs to manifest enough clinical cases for owners to remember the existence of the reporting tool and its potential use.
  • Lastly, the system’s success depends heavily on effective and persistent communication about its existence and importance.

Conclusion

The study suggests that a CBS approach relying solely on animal owners could potentially provide timely surveillance data. However, it also questions whether the value of the generated surveillance knowledge is worth the effort needed to implement a successful system, considering the challenges of maintaining interest, awareness, and participation within the community. This study helps illuminate both the potential and challenges of CBS in animal health and may provide valuable insights for future initiatives.

Cite This Article

APA
Özçelik R, Remy-Wohlfender F, Küker S, Visschers V, Hadorn D, Dürr S. (2021). Potential and Challenges of Community-Based Surveillance in Animal Health: A Pilot Study Among Equine Owners in Switzerland. Front Vet Sci, 8, 641448. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.641448

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 641448
PII: 641448

Researcher Affiliations

Özçelik, Ranya
  • Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Remy-Wohlfender, Franziska
  • ISME Equine Clinic Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Küker, Susanne
  • Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Visschers, Vivianne
  • School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland.
Hadorn, Daniela
  • Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Bern, Switzerland.
Dürr, Salome
  • Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. McGowan CR, Takahashi E, Romig L, Bertram K, Kadir A, Cummings R, Cardinal LJ. Community-based surveillance of infectious diseases: a systematic review of drivers of success. BMJ Glob Health 2022 Aug;7(8).
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