Self-reported hand hygiene perceptions and barriers among companion animal veterinary clinic personnel in Ontario,Canada

The objective of this study was to describe the perceived importance of and barriers to hand hygiene among companion animal clinic staff. An anonymous, voluntary written questionnaire was completed by 356 of approximately 578 individuals (62%) from 49/51 clinics. On a scale of 1 (not important) to 7 (very important), the percentage of respondents who rated hand hygiene as a 5 or higher was at least 82% in all clinical scenarios queried. The most frequently reported reason for not performing hand hygiene was forgetting to do so (40%, 141/353). Specific discussion of hand hygiene practices at work was recalled by 32% (114/354) of respondents. Although veterinary staff seem to recognize the importance of hand hygiene, it should be emphasized more during staff training. Other barriers including time constraints and skin irritation should also be addressed, possibly through increased access to and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.     

Opinions of Finnish small animal owners about surgery and pain management in small animals

Objectives : To examine the opinions among small animal owners regarding the management of pain and surgery in small animals. Methods : A questionnaire was presented to 800 owners of dogs or cats who visited one of the four participating clinics in Finland in February 2006. Results : A total of 482 owners completed the questionnaire (60·3 per cent response rate); 90 per cent of the respondents were female. Owners classified surgical procedures (for example, fracture repair, skin tumour removal and neutering) as more painful than medical conditions (otitis externa and lameness). In addition, owners disagreed most with statements that they had received sufficient information on the appropriate methods of management of animal pain and that the recognition of animal pain is easy. With respect to surgical procedures, owners expressed greatest concern in relation to the animal experiencing fear or anxiety during hospitalisation and the presence of postoperative pain. Clinical Significance : The animal owners had concerns about the presence and management of animal pain, fear and anxiety. Knowledge of these animal owner opinions could aid veterinary practitioners when communicating with their clients on medical and surgical patient management. Furthermore, studies are merited to clearly define how best to successfully respond to these owner attitudes.     

Presurgical hand antisepsis: concepts and current habits of veterinary surgeons

Objective: To assess current habits for surgical hand preparation among veterinary surgical specialists and to compare data with current guidelines for hand asepsis techniques. Study design: Survey of veterinary surgical specialists. Sample Population: Diplomates of the American (ACVS) and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS). Methods: An internet‐based survey of hand preparation methods before surgical procedures was conducted of 1300 listed ACVS and ECVS Diplomates. Results: A 42.6% response rate was obtained. Approximately, 80% of respondents use disinfecting soaps as a primary method for hand antisepsis. Of those, 81% use chlorhexidine‐based scrubs and 7% use a neutral soap followed by a hydroalcoholic solution. Conclusions: Contrary to current recommendations of the World Health Organization and scientific evidence supporting use of hydro‐alcoholic rubs for presurgical hand preparation, veterinary surgical specialists still use surgical scrub solutions containing disinfecting soaps.     

Evaluation of prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference

Infection and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are now increasingly being reported in animals and people who work with animals, including horses and horse personnel. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference, and to identify risk factors for MRSA colonization in this group. Volunteers were recruited at the conference to provide a single nasal swab and complete a questionnaire regarding contact with the human health care system, contact with horses, and personal hand hygiene. Colonization with MRSA was found in 26/257 (10.1%) of study participants. Multivariable analysis showed an increased risk of MRSA colonization associated with having been diagnosed with or having treated a patient diagnosed with MRSA colonization or infection in the last year (odds ratio [OR] 8.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51–49.92, P = 0.015; OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.05–10.11, P = 0.039, respectively), whereas hand washing between infectious cases (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11–0.72, P = 0.009) and hand washing between farms (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14–0.98, P = 0.047) were protective. The prevalence of MRSA colonization among equine veterinary personnel found in this study was high compared to that of other studies of the general population. These data support previous suggestions that equine veterinary personnel are at increased risk of colonization with MRSA. This is the first study to demonstrate a statistically significant association between hand hygiene practices and a measurable clinical outcome in veterinary medicine.     

Survey of pet owners' expectations of surgical practice within first opinion veterinary clinics in Great Britain

O bjectives : The expectations of small animal pet owners in Great Britain were evaluated on a number of issues regarding aseptic practice and clinical management and compared with final year veterinary students' assessment of actual veterinary practice.
M aterials and M ethods : A survey was completed by 328 small animal pet owners and 56 veterinary practices in Great Britain. Questions from the pet owner survey related to expectations and opinions on a number of surgical issues and questions from the veterinary surgeon survey examined veterinary practice in relation to the same issues. Comparisons were made to determine whether there were any differences between pet owner expectations and veterinary student assessment of actual practice of small animal first opinion clinics.
R esults : In the majority of issues examined there was a significant mismatch between client expectation and provisions made. Of particular importance was the discrepancy regarding the use of surgical gloves and administration of analgesia.
C linical S ignificance : These results suggest that attempts should be made to understand and improve the disparity that exists between small animal pet owners and veterinary surgeons in Great Britain.     

Survey of western Canadian veterinary practices: A demographic profile

A mixed-mode survey was used to describe the demographics of the veterinary profession in western Canada and to assess the demand for veterinary practitioners. Data were received from 655 practices (response rate = 52%), providing demographic data on 1636 individual practitioners. Most (60%) respondents self-classified their practices as exclusively small animal, while 25% and 4% were mixed animal or exclusively food animal practices, respectively. Across all practices, 77% of practitioners’ time was devoted to small animals and the average mixed animal practice devoted 60% of practitioners’ time to small animals. After accounting for practices that did not respond, there were ~300 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacant positions for veterinary associates; however, only 12% of practices were in urgent need of hiring an associate veterinarian. This report informs both prospective employees and employers on the state of the marketplace for veterinary associates, and provides an overview of the demographics of the veterinary profession in western Canada.     

Evaluation of prescribing practices for gabapentin as an analgesic among veterinary professionals

ObjectiveTo describe the prescribing practices for gabapentin as an analgesic within the veterinary community.Study designAnonymous online voluntary survey.PopulationA total of 718 veterinarians within the United States and Canada, including general practitioners and diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Emergency and Critical Care, Surgery and Internal Medicine.MethodsAn anonymous online survey was used to gather information about individual prescribing practices for gabapentin including frequency of use, reasons for prescribing and procedures for authorizing refill requests. Questions specific to gabapentin covered mechanisms of action, perceptions of efficacy and the potential for abuse in people. Dunn’s test for multiple comparisons and pairwise Mann–Whitney U test were used to evaluate relationships between veterinary specialty and survey responses.ResultsA total of 718 veterinarians responded to the survey, 528 (73.5%) answered all questions of the survey to completion. Frequency of prescribing was high with 365/529 (69.0%) of respondents prescribing gabapentin as an analgesic on a daily or weekly basis. Surgeons and general practitioners used gabapentin significantly more frequently than other groups, with surgeons more likely to prescribe gabapentin for postoperative pain. The most common reason [254/517 (49.1%)] survey respondents prescribed gabapentin as an analgesic was because administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication was contraindicated for that animal. The majority of survey respondents [362/527 (68.7%)] considered the abuse potential of gabapentin to be low in people.Conclusions and clinical relevanceVeterinary prescribing practices for gabapentin closely mirrored that of human physicians, with gabapentin being prescribed frequently and for uses largely unrelated to its labeled indication. The perception of the potential for abuse of gabapentin is low within the veterinary community.     

Numbers of dogs, cats, birds, and exotic animals in veterinary practices in the Netherlands 1994-2005 and possible consequences for the veterinary curriculum

The species of pets owned in the Netherlands are constantly changing, and it is important that veterinary practitioners have information about the number and species of pets presented in veterinary practice. Using the same methodology as in 1994, we determined the relative importance of the various pet species in 2005 and compared these data with those for 1994. The most notable findings were a 25% increase in the number of birds and exotic animals seen in small and large animal practices (from about 10% to about 12.5%), a doubling of the number of birds and tripling of the number of pigeons seen in mixed practices, a doubling of the number of reptiles seen in small animal practices, and a 10-fold increase in the number of fish seen in veterinary practices in general. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of cats (from 46% to 40.7%) and an increase in the proportion of dogs (from 44% to 46.7%). These trends in veterinary practice consultations did not parallel those seen in pet ownership. The increase in the number of birds (especially pigeons), reptiles, and fish seen in veterinary practice emphasizes the need to pay attention to these species in the standard companion animal curriculum.     

Evaluation of the expectations, learning and competencies of surgical skills by undergraduate veterinary students performing canine ovariohysterectomies

Objectives : To investigate the development of surgical skills of veterinary undergraduates and determine the number of canine ovariohysterectomies required to achieve competency and reduce levels of student concern. This was compared to student expectations and that of employers regarding surgical ability and provision of support to new graduates. Methods : A questionnaire regarding surgical concerns was sent to final year veterinary students enrolled within the University of Bristol, UK. A questionnaire was also sent to 200 UK veterinary practices regarding their impressions of surgical competence of new graduates and their provision of supervision. The responses were compared. Eleven additional final year students performed five canine ovariohysterectomies and graded their concerns. The number of supervised canine ovariohysterectomies required until competency was determined. Results : 80·4% of final year veterinary undergraduates replied that the surgical procedure which they were most concerned about their ability to perform was canine ovariohysterectomy. Students and veterinary practitioners differed in their opinions regarding whether they considered canine ovariohysterectomy to be a “day one skill” and what were desirable levels of supervision. Completing a minimum of four canine ovariohysterectomies led to 81·8% of students being assessed as competent. Clinical Significance : An unrealistically high expectation of competency by students may be a source of stress and concern. Employers should aim to provide hands‐on support whilst new graduates complete at least four canine ovariohysterectomies. Postoperative haemorrhage is uncommon but is the main concern for students.     

Perceptions of fourth-year veterinary students about the human-animal bond in veterinary practice and in veterinary college curricula

OBJECTIVE: To assess veterinary students' perceptions regarding the importance of addressing the human-animal bond in veterinary practice and their perceptions about the adequacy of curricula on the human-animal bond as presented in US veterinary colleges. DESIGN: Survey. PROCEDURE: Data were collected via a brief questionnaire mailed during the summer of 1996. Questionnaires were returned by 552 senior veterinary students representing 21 of 27 veterinary colleges in the United States. RESULTS: Senior veterinary students believed that the human-animal bond should be a concern of practicing veterinarians, but most did not believe they were receiving adequate instruction about the human-animal bond in their veterinary colleges. Gender was significantly related to differences in perceptions; female students appeared to have more interest in addressing the human-animal bond than male students. Students in small animal programs viewed the human-animal bond differently than those in large animal programs. Finally, students attending schools with extensive human-animal bond or human relations curricula were more likely to believe they were receiving adequate instruction in this area than students in other schools. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Curricula addressing the human-animal bond need to be developed and implemented in veterinary colleges in the United States.     

Demographics and career path choices of graduates from three Canadian veterinary colleges

The classes of 2007 from the Atlantic Veterinary College, Ontario Veterinary College, and Western College of Veterinary Medicine were surveyed to determine what factors influenced the respondents’ career path choices. Seventy percent (166/237) of those contacted participated in the survey of which 89.1% were female, 62.7% had an urban upbringing, and 33.0% expected to be employed in a small center (population ≤ 10 000). Half (52.5%) of the respondents reported that they were interested in mixed or food animal practice at the time of entry into veterinary college, but this proportion declined to 34.2% by the time of graduation. Three factors were significantly associated with choosing a career in mixed or food animal practice: having been raised in a small center, being a male, and having a good to excellent knowledge of food animal production at the time of entry into veterinary college, as determined by a self-assessment.     

Factors influencing choice of veterinary service provider by pastoralist in Kenya

This study analyzed the determinants for choice of animal health providers in a semiarid pastoral area with an aim of identifying specific attributes that could be targeted for intervention to enhance pastoralist access to quality veterinary services. The data were collected through administration of semi-structured questionnaires to 350 randomly selected household heads in different locations in Narok County of Kenya. Most of these respondents had no formal education (66.9 %), and most households were headed by men (88.9 %). The men were in control of sales (84.2 %), purchases (83.7 %), and treatment of sick cattle (70.3 %), while women were responsible for milking (83.8 %). Animal health services were delivered by drug stockists (87.76 %) and government veterinarians (12.24 %). The time spent while seeking animal health services and transport cost were specific attributes with impact on the probability of choice for service providers. Although distance covered to the preferred service provider was a significant attribute, it was inversely related to the probability of choice. The other factors including herd sizes, age and sex of household head, cost incurred per visit, level of education of household head, and the number of visits did not have significant impact on choices. These findings support commercialization of veterinary services in marginalized areas where the delivery of essential animal health services such as disease control programs are often viewed as a public good. In order to enhance delivery of veterinary services in these areas, it is proposed that public and private means are investigated to support qualified veterinarians and to strengthen the activities of untrained personnel operating drug outlets.     

Attitudes of veterinarians to undergraduate education in genetics and the use of genetics in veterinary occupations

A questionnaire regarding attitudes to undergraduate education in genetics and the subsequent use of that education was sent to 1000 veterinarians registered in New South Wales. Three hundred replies to the questionnaire were received and analysed. No significant difference in the perceived adequacy of courses at the four universities involved in teaching veterinary science was observed. Opinions on adequacy of education in genetics were not affected by age, sex or years since graduation. The major reason cited for lack of adequacy was that undergraduate genetics courses were not practical. Only 17 respondents stated that they were never approached for information on genetics or animal breeding, while 76 were approached more than 20 times annually for information. Eighty-three respondents claimed to deal with more than 20 cases annually that required some knowledge of genetics. The results of the questionnaire highlight the importance of genetics instruction in undergraduate veterinary education. The questionnaire responses also provide insight into how working veterinarians consider that courses in genetics could be improved.     

Evaluation of ergonomic risk factors among veterinary ultrasonographers

Between 65% and 91% of human‐patient sonographers report musculoskeletal symptoms related to their work activities. Ergonomic risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include force, repetition, and awkward postures of the upper extremities. We hypothesized that veterinary sonographers experience similar risk factor exposures as their colleagues in human‐patient sonography, and that work‐related exposures may lead to similar prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography published MSD prevention guidelines in 2003. Similar guidance for sonographers examining animal patients does not exist. This cross‐sectional study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among veterinary sonographers and identify reported risk factors. A 59‐item survey questionnaire was administered via email to veterinary specialists likely to perform ultrasound. Musculoskeletal pain related to performing ultrasound exams was reported by 62% of the respondents. Musculoskeletal symptoms were significantly associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR], 4.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04–10.19), age (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01, 1.10), previous work‐related trauma (OR, 6.86; 95% CI, 1.71, 27.40), not consistently using a normal height chair (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.19, 5.80), and 15°–45° abduction of shoulder (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.11, 4.92) . It was concluded that the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among veterinary sonographers was similar to that occurring in human‐patient sonographers. © 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.     

Perceptions of animal physiotherapy amongst Irish veterinary surgeons

The aim of this study was to investigate veterinary surgeons' perceptions, knowledge and use of animal physiotherapy in the Republic of Ireland. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 200 veterinary surgeons, of which 97 were returned. Results indicated that 77 (79%) of respondents were aware of animal physiotherapists. Common sources of information included veterinary colleagues, owners and professional journals, with physiotherapists themselves and undergraduate training being less commonly cited. Awareness of animal physiotherapy was greatest amongst those working in equine practice (χ2 = 5.7, df 1, p = 0.017); they were more knowledgeable about its techniques (t = 2.806, df 75, p = 0.006) and more likely to refer (χ2 = 48.36, df 1, p = 0.0001). Seventy-four respondents (96%) thought that more research was necessary to increase the evidence base for animal physiotherapy. If this branch of physiotherapy is to develop, there needs to be increased interaction and co-operation between veterinary surgeons and chartered animal physiotherapists.     

Results of a national survey of US veterinary college faculty regarding attitudes toward farm animal welfare

OBJECTIVE: To examine attitudes toward farm animal welfare among veterinary college faculty. DESIGN: E-mail survey. STUDY POPULATION: 157 US veterinary college faculty with large animal or food animal emphasis. PROCEDURE: Veterinarians from 27 US veterinary colleges were contacted via e-mail and asked to complete a 7-page survey relating to farm animal welfare issues. Thirty-one percent of those contacted responded. RESULTS: 71% of respondents self-characterized their attitude toward farm animal welfare as "we can use animals for the greater human good but have an obligation to provide for the majority of the animals' physiologic and behavioral needs." An additional 19% of respondents were more concerned about animal welfare than was indicated by that statement, and 10% were less concerned about farm animal welfare than was indicated by that statement. Significant relationships among demographic variables and attitude scores were observed, including more concerned attitudes among females, those with more liberal political views, and those who cited lower religiosity. No relationship between attitude and age was observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinary college faculty have the opportunity to impact many stakeholders within the animal agriculture industries (eg, future veterinarians and policy makers looking for a veterinary science perspective). Results indicated that a considerable level of concern toward farm animal welfare is present in this population. Although the process of change may not be rapid, it is likely that the influence of these respondents will factor heavily into enhancing farm animal welfare.     

Reviewing the undergraduate veterinary curriculum in Finland for control tasks in veterinary public health

To review and develop the undergraduate veterinary curriculum on official control in veterinary public health, an electronic survey was sent to 204 Finnish veterinarians employed in the field of food hygiene in 2005. The response rate was 44%. Most frequently cited as strengths of the current curriculum were extensive education and good knowledge. Respondents considered the main challenges in their work to be a wide field of activity, organizational changes, financial resources, organization of substitutes, and collaboration with decision makers. Of the 23 items to be included in the undergraduate curriculum, therefore, respondents prioritized state and local decision making, the role of the public servant, and leadership and management in the area of social factors; in the field of practical control work, in-house control systems, organizations and responsibilities, control techniques, and planning and targeting of controls were prioritized. Of areas traditionally covered in the undergraduate curriculum, legislation; legal proceedings and implications of controls; risks to human, animal, and plant health; and hazards in feed, animal, and food production were stated to be the most important. Although respondents were generally content with their career choice, veterinary public health tasks were not their first choice of career path immediately after graduation. Based on these findings, more attention should be focused on social aspects and practical training in official control in the undergraduate veterinary curriculum. The survey results also highlight the contrasts between society's needs and veterinarians' motivations and career-path expectations, which pose a significant challenge for future curricula.