Preventive veterinary medicine2013; 110(1); 37-44; doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.02.004

Untangling the complex inter-relationships between horse managers’ perceptions of effectiveness of biosecurity practices using Bayesian graphical modelling.

Schemann, K
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Lewis, FI
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Firestone, SM
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Ward, MP
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Toribio, JA
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Taylor, MR
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Dhand, NK

Abstract: On-farm biosecurity practices have been promoted in many animal industries to protect animal populations from infections. Current approaches based on regression modelling techniques for assessing biosecurity perceptions and practices are limited for analysis of the interrelationships between multivariate data. A suitable approach, which does not require background knowledge of relationships, is provided by Bayesian network modelling. Here we apply such an approach to explore the complex interrelationships between the variables representing horse managers' perceptions of effectiveness of on-farm biosecurity practices. The dataset was derived from interviews conducted with 200 horse managers in Australia after the 2007 equine influenza outbreak. Using established computationally intensive techniques, an optimal graphical statistical model was identified whose structure was objectively determined, directly from the observed data. This methodology is directly analogous to multivariate regression (i.e. multiple response variables). First, an optimal model structure was identified using an exact (exhaustive) search algorithm, followed by pruning the selected model for over-fitting by the parametric bootstrapping approach. Perceptions about effectiveness of movement restrictions and access control were linked but were generally segregated from the perceptions about effectiveness of personal and equipment hygiene. Horse managers believing in the effectiveness of complying with movement restrictions in stopping equine influenza spread onto their premises were also more likely to believe in the effectiveness of reducing their own contact with other horses and curtailing professional visits. Similarly, the variables representing the effectiveness of disinfecting vehicles, using a disinfectant footbath, changing into clean clothes on arrival at the premises and washing hands before contact with managed horses were clustered together. In contrast, horse managers believing in the effectiveness of disinfecting vehicles (hygiene measure) were less likely to believe in the effectiveness of controlling who has access to managed horses (access control). The findings of this analysis provide new insights into the relationships between perceptions of effectiveness of different biosecurity measures. Different extension education strategies might be required for horse managers believing more strongly in the effectiveness of access control or hygiene measures.

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Publication Date: 2013-03-13 PubMed ID: 23490146DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.02.004Google Scholar: Lookup

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Summary

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This study explores the perceptions of horse managers in Australia regarding the effectiveness of various on-farm biosecurity practices, specifically using a Bayesian network modelling approach. The researchers found that different biosecurity measures, such as movement restrictions and hygiene practices, are perceived differently by horse managers, suggesting that education strategies may need to be tailored accordingly.

Study Design and Methodology

The researchers utilized a dataset gathered from interviews with 200 horse managers in Australia post the 2007 equine influenza outbreak. The data collected focused on the horse managers’ perception of the effectiveness of various on-farm biosecurity practices.
To analyze the multiple variables and potential interrelationships, the researchers employed a Bayesian network modelling approach. This approach does not require prior knowledge of relationships which makes it suitable for analysing such multivariate data.
Computationally intensive methods were leveraged to identify an optimal graphical statistical model directly from the observed data, aligning this methodology to multivariate regression.
The identified optimal model structure was first established via an exact (exhaustive) search algorithm, and then pruned for overfitting using a parametric bootstrapping approach.

Major Findings

Perceptions about the effectiveness of movement restrictions and access control were generally linked but were separate from perceptions about hygiene practices for personal equipment.
Horse managers who perceived the effectiveness of movement restrictions and reducing personal contact with horses also saw value in curtailing professional visits.
Measures such as disinfecting vehicles, using a disinfectant footbath, changing into clean clothes upon arrival at premises, and washing hands before contact with horses were perceived as effective grouped together.
Interestingly, those managers who believed in the effectiveness of disinfecting vehicles (a hygiene measure) were less inclined to believe in the effectiveness of controlling access to horses (an access control measure).

Implications

The findings provide valuable insights into the various perceptions surrounding the effectiveness of different biosecurity practices in relation to the horse industry.
The differential perceptions of hygiene measures and access control measures may call for tailored extension education strategies aimed at horse managers who hold stronger beliefs in the effectiveness of one approach over the other.

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APA

Schemann K, Lewis FI, Firestone SM, Ward MP, Toribio JA, Taylor MR, Dhand NK. (2013). Untangling the complex inter-relationships between horse managers’ perceptions of effectiveness of biosecurity practices using Bayesian graphical modelling. Prev Vet Med, 110(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.02.004