Zoonotic disease risk perceptions in the British veterinary profession

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Occupational Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Infection prevention and control practices (IPCs) are crucial for reducing occupationally-acquired infections in human and veterinary medicine.
• Zoonoses pose a significant risk to veterinary practitioners, yet understanding of these risks and their impact on health protective behaviors is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore risk perceptions of zoonoses among British veterinary professionals.
• To identify motivators and barriers influencing compliance with IPCs in veterinary practice.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with veterinary practices registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• Data were collected from 252 respondents regarding their risk perceptions, experiences with zoonoses, and attitudes towards IPCs and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Main Results:

• A majority (57.5%) of respondents were not concerned about zoonotic risks, though 34.9% were. 44.0% reported contracting a zoonotic disease, most commonly dermatophytosis.
• For those with experience managing zoonotic cases, time/financial constraints and animal reactions were not barriers to PPE use. Liability concerns motivated PPE use in large animal practice.
• Veterinary nurses generally exhibited more positive attitudes towards infection control compared to veterinary surgeons.

Conclusions:

• Compliance with IPCs is influenced by complex, multifactorial elements beyond mere knowledge and experience.
• While education can improve compliance to some extent, increased knowledge does not automatically translate to enhanced risk-mitigating behavior.
• Understanding the complex and circumstance-specific construction of risk is essential for improving adherence to IPCs in veterinary settings.