Harnessing RSPCA Stakeholder Expertise to Co-Produce a Complex Intervention Addressing Childhood and Adolescent...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Child Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Childhood and Adolescent Animal Harm (CAAH) stems from complex biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors.
• Preventative interventions are crucial for cultivating empathy and mitigating future animal cruelty among youth.
• Existing interventions require updates to address contemporary risks and ensure inclusivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore RSPCA stakeholder perspectives for co-producing a redeveloped intervention addressing youth animal harm.
• To identify target audiences, refine intervention content, and determine optimal delivery and evaluation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 RSPCA employees across England.
• Thematic analysis was employed to extract key insights regarding intervention redesign.
• Focus was placed on target groups, content modernization, delivery methods, and evaluation.

Main Results:

• Two primary target groups were identified: universal (primary school) and high-risk youth.
• Stakeholders recommended retaining core content while modernizing resources for online risks and neurodiverse accessibility.
• Face-to-face delivery supplemented by digital resources was favored, with a strong emphasis on comprehensive evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholder collaboration is essential for developing effective animal cruelty prevention interventions.
• Future research will involve co-production with children and young people, followed by piloting and evaluation.
• The redesigned intervention aims to be accessible, relevant, and impactful in preventing youth animal harm.