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UK pet owners’ use of the internet for online pet health information
Veterinary Record
Abstract
The internet has been found to be a popular source for human health information. However, there is a lack of information on pet owners’ use of the internet to source pet health information and implications for the owner–veterinarian relationship. Therefore, the aim of this study was to address this gap in knowledge by focusing on UK pet owners’ general use of the internet to find online pet health information and the impact of this behaviour on the owner–veterinarian relationship. An online survey targeting UK pet owners resulted in 571 respondents. Respondents reported the most frequently used source for pet health information was the internet (78.6 per cent), followed by their veterinarian (72 per cent). Veterinarians and other pet owners, however, were rated as the most trustworthy sources. The topics searched for most often online were specific medical problems (61.3 per cent) and diet/nutrition (58.5 per cent). Regarding the owner–veterinarian relationship, 42.1 per cent of participants reported discussing information they found online ‘sometimes’ with their veterinarian. When asked if their veterinarian recommended specific websites, nearly half (49.6 per cent) stated that their veterinarian ‘never’ made such recommendations, yet over 90 per cent said they would visit veterinarian-recommended websites.
... The internet is commonly used by pet owners as a source of information about their pet's health. 7 While this ease-of-access presents opportunities for pet owners to educate themselves, online information may be inaccurate, incomplete or lacking in quality, and may lead to concerns about misinformation. [7][8][9][10] The readability level of online content is also important to consider, and educational materials written at a level too high for reader understanding may risk misinterpretation of the information and inadvertent negative consequences for patients. ...
... 7 While this ease-of-access presents opportunities for pet owners to educate themselves, online information may be inaccurate, incomplete or lacking in quality, and may lead to concerns about misinformation. [7][8][9][10] The readability level of online content is also important to consider, and educational materials written at a level too high for reader understanding may risk misinterpretation of the information and inadvertent negative consequences for patients. The American Medical Association recommends that health information be written at a sixth-grade reading level to increase accessibility for the public. ...
... While veterinarians are considered a preferred and trusted source of pet health information for owners, [27][28][29] the internet is also a source of pet health information for many owners. 7,30 If internet sources other than the information or websites obtained from the veterinary team are deemed more accessible by owners in terms of readability, it is possible that clients may seek and consume information from these other online sources, which may Table 3-Percent text coverage based on character counts of each code related to communicating the value of a preventive care service (flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, dental cleaning, or senior bloodwork) when applied to 128 US veterinary clinicbased website pages. Values indicated by superscripts are significantly different (P < .05) in Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparison; only the total benefit was used for pairwise comparisons. ...
OBJECTIVE
To explore client preferences for how value is communicated via written means and to assess the consistency of this preference with how veterinary clinic websites present this information for preventive care services.
METHODS
First, a questionnaire was developed to assess clients’ preference between 2 researcher-developed paragraphs recommending senior pet screening (one focused on the function of screening, the other on pet benefits of screening) and distributed from August 17 to November 2, 2023. Second, veterinary clinic websites were retrieved with a search engine using predefined search phrases related to 4 preventive care topics (flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, dental cleaning, and senior bloodwork). Each website was coded for the frequency of 4 codes related to how the value of the preventive care service was communicated (feature, function, pet benefit, or client benefit).
RESULTS
From the questionnaire, 58.0% (166/286) of participants preferred the benefit-focused communication. Those who saw the benefit-focused paragraph were more likely to indicate being “extremely likely” to discuss senior pet screening with a veterinarian. Of the 128 website pages coded, the mean text percentages for each code were 13.3% feature, 10.5% function, 6.4% pet benefit, and 1.0% client benefit.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that opportunities exist to increase communication of the benefits of veterinary care on veterinary clinic websites, which may align more with clients’ preferences.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Through online communication, veterinary professionals may have an opportunity to increase client engagement with preventive care services by emphasizing the benefits of preventive care services in addition to the function.
... Their results show that 71% of all surveyed dog owners indicate that they conduct a general internet search to find out about different aspects of their dog(s) care, compared to 66% of owners who sought such information from their veterinary surgeon (1). Similarly, results of a study of pet owners in the United Kingdom showed that owners were more likely to make use of the internet (79%) than to contact their veterinarian (72%) when looking for pet health information (2). These findings are also reflected in a transnational study of small animal veterinarians in Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom, where approximately half of the veterinarians estimated that many of their clients use internet resources to find veterinary medical information (3). ...
... (iv) The samples includes both dog and cat owners, which allows us to investigate whether the animal species (dog or cat) has an impact on whether and how often clients use internet resources prior to or after a consultation with their veterinarian. (v) While previous research has focused on the identification of possible differences among pet owners' use of internet resources with respect to their age, gender, or education level (2,7), the present study takes into account additional important aspects such as clients' emotional attachment to their pet, their living situation (living alone or not), and whether they work in the veterinary sector. These factors have not previously been considered, but it seems reasonable to expect that these factors may impact clients' use of internet resources to find medical information. ...
... Items related to dog and cat owners' use of internet resources to obtain medical information were developed as a follow up to a transnational questionnaire study revealing veterinarians' attitudes toward clients' use of internet resources to obtain medical information (3). In addition, a literature review was conducted that served as a further basis for the development of items (2,4,6,7). The questionnaire was developed in English, and a two-step translation and backtranslation procedure was then used to produce versions to be used in Austria and Denmark. ...
Modern dog and cat owners increasingly use internet resources to obtain information on pet health issues. While access to online information can improve owners’ knowledge of patient care and inform conversations with their veterinarian during consultations, there is also a risk that owners will misinterpret online information or gain a false impression of current standards in veterinary medicine. This in turn can cause problems or tensions, for example if the owner delays consulting their veterinarian about necessary treatment, or questions the veterinarian’s medical advice. Based on an online questionnaire aimed at dog and cat owners in Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom (N = 2117) we investigated the use of internet resources to find veterinary medical information, the type of internet resources that were used, and whether owner beliefs explain how often they used the internet to find medical information about their pet. Approximately one in three owners reported that they never used internet resources prior to (31.7%) or after (37.0%) a consultation with their veterinarian. However, when owners do make use of the internet, our results show that they were more likely to use it before than after the consultation. The most common internet resources used by owners were practice websites (35.0%), veterinary association websites (24.0%), or ‘other’ websites providing veterinary information (55.2%). Owners who believe that the use of internet resources enables them to have a more informed discussion with their veterinarians more often use internet resources prior to a consultation, whereas owners who believed that internet resources help them to make the right decision for their animal more often use internet resources after a consultation. The results suggest that veterinarians should actively ask pet owners if they use internet resources, and what resources they use, in order to facilitate open discussion about information obtained from the internet. Given that more than a third of pet owners use practice websites, the findings also suggest that veterinarians should actively curate their own websites where they can post information that they consider accurate and trustworthy.
... Although not specific to pre-acquisition research, there have been a number of studies that investigated pet owners' use of the internet to research pet health information, e.g., [27][28][29]. These highlight that although the internet clearly has benefits for pet owners, in terms of readily available resources on a wide range of topics, there are concerns about the quality of information [30]. ...
... Although this does not mean that the information was inaccurate, the authors suggested the lack of reliability indicators may have hindered users' ability to identify trustworthy sources to make welfare-compatible decisions. A study by Kogan et al. [28] found that over half of UK pet owners felt frustrated by a lack of information or an inability to find what they were looking for online, or they felt confused or overwhelmed by the information they did find. Despite this, 40% of owners viewed websites as trustworthy. ...
... Similar to previous research, e.g., [20,21,25,26], our study found that prospective owners reported being most likely to find information online or from friends or family. As has been noted by other studies, e.g., [28][29][30][31], although the internet has many benefits, such as being readily available to many and covering a vast array of topics, there are concerns about the reliability and completeness of information it provides. Owner concerns about identifying accurate and trustworthy information were highlighted in our qualitative research. ...
Simple Summary
Little is known about the information or advice that prospective owners seek prior to acquiring a dog. This paper reports findings from a mixed methods study into dog acquisition in the UK and focuses on a subset of owners who undertook research prior to acquiring their dog. Those who sought advice or information most often consulted websites, friends and family, and online forums. Topics researched included general information about dogs, information about breeds or types of dogs, owner requirements and dog suitability, aspects of dog ownership, and how to source a dog. Most prospective owners who conducted research reported finding all the information they wanted but some found conflicting advice and did not know which sources to trust. The findings will be of interest to those who provide advice related to dog acquisition and dog ownership, in order to improve the knowledge and decisions made by prospective owners.
Abstract
Dogs are the most common pet animal species in the UK. Little is known about information and advice gathering within the process of dog acquisition, nor what pre-acquisition research encompasses. This study aimed to better understand the preparatory research undertaken by prospective dog owners in the UK. A 2019 online survey collected quantitative and qualitative data about dog acquisition. Analyses within this study focused on a subset of these current (n = 4381) and potential (n = 2350) owners who had undertaken research, or who reported planning to do so, before acquiring a dog. Additional qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with current (n = 24) and potential (n = 8) dog owners. Among those current owners who had sought information or advice, websites were the most common source of information (76%), followed by family and friends (70%), and online forums (51%). Similar patterns were seen among potential owners. Qualitative data revealed that information was commonly sought on the following: general information about dogs; information about breeds or types of dogs; owner requirements and dog suitability; aspects of dog ownership; and how to source a dog. The majority of prospective owners stated that they had found all the information they wanted (96% of current owners and 90% of potential owners) but some respondents found conflicting advice from different sources and did not know which sources to trust. Our study shows that, for some prospective owners, research into various aspects of dog acquisition and ownership is important. Knowing where to look for correct and unbiased advice, particularly online, is particularly important. Understanding the pre-acquisition research that owners undertake, including the sources they use, information they are interested in finding, and the challenges they face, is of interest to animal welfare and veterinary organisations and those involved in rehoming and selling dogs. This information may help inform interventions aimed at improving the knowledge and decisions made by potential dog owners.
... They also expressed the desire for supplementary resources from their veterinarian, whether that be provided through the clinic or other reputable internet sources [22,23]. A recent online survey targeting pet owners in the United Kingdom found that the most common source for pet health information was the internet (449/571; 78.6%), followed by their veterinarian (441/571; 77.2%), yet veterinarians were considered the most trustworthy source of information [24]. An older study conducted by Hofmeister et al. (2008) showed that clients of veterinary practices consider the internet to be the third most popular source of information regarding pet health, following general practitioners and veterinary specialists [25]. ...
... Comprehensive and up-to-date websites can allow pet owners to gain confidence in their ability to manage their pet's weight and to understand what assistance can be provided by their veterinary health care team. Accessible information can result in pet owners becoming more comfortable asking questions, ultimately leading to a sense of responsibility and self-motivation to improve their pet's condition [24,26,27]. It can also help to establish veterinary clinics as trusted experts in pet health and wellness, further strengthening the relationship with pet owners and promoting client loyalty [22][23][24][25][26][27]. ...
... Accessible information can result in pet owners becoming more comfortable asking questions, ultimately leading to a sense of responsibility and self-motivation to improve their pet's condition [24,26,27]. It can also help to establish veterinary clinics as trusted experts in pet health and wellness, further strengthening the relationship with pet owners and promoting client loyalty [22][23][24][25][26][27]. Finally, information regarding veterinary health care team members and their qualifications or interests in the field of pet weight management could be vital for pet owners when choosing the right veterinary practice for potential weight management consultations. ...
Simple Summary
In addition to veterinary advice, pet owners rely on the internet for information on their pet’s health. Effectively managing a pet’s weight is often an underestimated component of wellness for pets, and there is an opportunity for veterinary practices to utilize an online platform to educate pet owners on the importance of weight management. The primary objective of this study was to describe the type of canine and feline weight management services, products, and information advertised or displayed on the websites of 50 veterinary practices in Ontario. An additional objective was to explore whether the size, company status, and location of the practice influences what is advertised or displayed. The preliminary results suggested that veterinary practices do not prioritize advertising weight management services, products, or educational material online for the public, and this was especially true for smaller practices with fewer veterinarians and veterinary technicians employed. Independently owned veterinary practices also seemed to advertise weight management products less than corporate practices. The exploratory findings of this study highlight the need for veterinary teams to provide educational and up-to-date online resources on weight management for pet owners. This, in turn, can provide trusted educational and accessible information for pet owners and contribute to client loyalty.
Abstract
Pet owners rely on information and advice from their veterinary practice to effectively manage their pet’s weight. This study investigated weight management information and services displayed on practice websites in Ontario, Canada. Information collected from the websites of 50 randomly selected small and mixed-animal practices included practice and staff demographics and the type of weight management services, products, and information advertised or displayed. The most frequently advertised weight management service and product were nutritional counselling (34%) and therapeutic diets (25%), respectively. Current bodyweight measurement was advertised on just over half of the websites (54%), while physical therapy counselling was the least-advertised service (16%). Further statistical analyses were performed in an exploratory fashion to determine areas for future research. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between practice demographics and the type of weight management information advertised online. A maximum of two predictor variables were included in each regression model. Exploratory analyses indicated that when controlling for the number of veterinarians in each practice, having a higher number of veterinary technicians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising current bodyweight measurement by 80.1% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, p = 0.05). Additionally, when controlling the number of veterinary technicians, having a higher number of veterinarians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising sales of therapeutic diets by 119.0% (OR = 2.19, p = 0.04). When using corporate practices as reference, independently owned practices had decreased odds of advertising sales of treats and weight management accessories on their practice websites by 78.7% (OR = 0.21, p = 0.03). These preliminary results suggest that advertising weight management information is not prioritized on veterinary practice websites in Ontario, especially those with lower staff numbers. The findings of this study raise awareness on the current state of weight management promotion for pets on veterinary practice websites and highlight ways to improve upon a practice’s online presence.
... Pet owners also consider social media as one of the first sources to obtain health information about dogs . So far, several studies have revealed that pet owners take the internet, including social media, into account when accessing pets' health-related information (Kogan et al., 2018;Kogan et al., 2008;Solhjoo et al., 2018). ...
... A substantial number of people rely on the Internet to obtain health information about their pets (Kogan et al., 2018). The current study aims to assess the validity of health information about dogs on TikTok. ...
... The veterinary community should be aware of the potential impact of social media, particularly TikTok, on dogs well-being. We recommend that the veterinarians work together to provide comprehendible, easy-to-follow and to-the-point literature about dog health (Kogan et al., 2018 ...
Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the 150 top-listed videos on TikTok focused on dogs’ health in order to systematically characterize their types and scientific accuracy. Design/methodology/approach: TikTok was searched for videos about dog health by using the terms “Doghealth”, “Dogdiet”, and “Dogadvice”. Initially, the top 50 videos were considered, and after eliminating the irrelevant videos, the 86 remaining videos were evaluated by the authors on detailed information, then categorized, and lastly, an experienced veterinarian watched each video to assess and rate its accuracy. Results and discussion: The findings indicate that approximately half of the selected videos focused on scientifically confirmed methods for treating pet dogs, while the other half tended to offer more practical approaches. Among the videos created by veterinarians, around two-thirds (67 videos) were grounded in verified scientific methods. However, non-veterinarian videos displayed less scientific reliability, with only 38 percent (20 videos) adhering to verified scientific methods, and a greater emphasis on experimental approaches. Conclusion: The results suggest that TikTok posts about dogs' health are useful, but not entirely reliable and trustworthy sources of health information. Many posts are beneficial, but not entirely reliable and trustworthy. Originality/value: This paper provides an analysis of the accuracy and quality of 150 top-listed videos on TikTok about dogs’ health.
... The internet is frequently accessed by owners seeking canine health information, and has been identified as the most commonly used information source despite owners rating veterinary surgeons as more trustworthy. [24][25][26] Owners may join online groups with other owners of pets diagnosed with the same chronic condition, 27 which may provide a larger volume of information and a greater sense of empowerment. 28 Use of the internet could also provide increased access to anecdotal information from the experiences of other owners, which is thought to often contribute to patient decision making in human medicine. ...
... The internet has been identified as the most commonly reported source of pet health information utilised by owners in the UK, and can influence decision making by owners. 24 This has not been shown to be largely affected by owner demographics or education levels. 50 Uptake is likely to be good, with the majority of owners likely to visit sources recommended by their veterinary surgeon. ...
... 50 Uptake is likely to be good, with the majority of owners likely to visit sources recommended by their veterinary surgeon. 24 Therefore, more frequent provision of internet-based information prescriptions could potentially improve owner satisfaction and treatment compliance and begin the building of a partnership where one is not already established. ...
Background
Idiopathic epilepsy is a prevalent canine condition that can be challenging to manage. A positive vet–owner relationship contributes to satisfaction and compliance, but its impact on management is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate owner perspectives about the impact of veterinary surgeons on decision making and management.
Methods
Qualitative methods were utilised, and semi‐structured interviews were completed with 21 owners of dogs with epilepsy who lived in England. Transcripts were thematically analysed, and this study discusses the theme ‘influences of the veterinary surgeon’.
Results
Many owners felt that more precise expectations could have improved interactions with their veterinary surgeon(s), and their experiences of caring for their dog. Most owners referred to a specialist reported a positive experience, often due to specialists being perceived to have greater experience or knowledge. Owners who reported predominantly negative experiences were often less trusting of the veterinary profession, and more likely to perform self‐directed research.
Limitations
These results represent the experiences of a small subset of owners, and larger scale studies are required to support these findings.
Conclusion
Owners appear to value the formation of partnerships of care with their veterinary surgeon, and greater availability of educational resources could further improve owner satisfaction.
... While clients' interests in seeking medical information can be viewed as a positive development potentially improving their knowledge and understanding of patient care, other studies have shown that veterinarians are also concerned about the potential negative effects [2,[4][5][6][7]. For example, online resources can distribute incorrect information; conversely, correct information can be misinterpreted by owners. ...
... Clients' use of the internet to obtain medical information as well as information about specific veterinary services will undoubtedly increase [2,6]. Previous empirical studies have mainly focused on potential problems in relation to clients' use of internet resources, and little is currently known about the potential benefits. ...
... Items related to clients' use of internet resources to obtain medical information were developed based on results of an Austrian focus group study [8] and a literature review of mainly empirical studies related to this issue [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The questionnaire was developed in English, and a two-step back-translation procedure was then used to produce the Austrian and Danish version of the questionnaire [13]. ...
Simple Summary
Owners of dogs, cats, and other companion animals increasingly make use of the internet to find out how to best care for their animals. This may affect owners’ relations with veterinarians in both positive and negative ways. A positive consequence could be that owners are better informed when they approach a veterinarian. However, there can also be challenging situations in which the owners may question veterinarians’ professional advice based on online information. Using a questionnaire, we found that a majority of Austrian, Danish, and UK veterinarians (n = 641) surveyed were occasionally confronted with clients who question their medical advice based on information obtained from the internet. In addition, the veterinarians were concerned about the potential for clients to misunderstand information found on the internet, or to develop unrealistic expectations of what is possible in small animal practices. As internet use becomes ever more widespread, we suggest that the types of resources that are available and used by animal owners should be further explored.
Abstract
Veterinary medicine is increasingly affected by animal owners having the opportunity to become better informed on pet health issues by using various internet resources. Using an online questionnaire including a section on clients’ use of internet resources to obtain medical information, this study aimed to investigate veterinarians’ estimates of the percentage of clients using internet resources, how often clients question veterinarians’ professional medical advice based on online information, and veterinarians’ attitudes towards clients’ use of internet resources, across Austrian, Danish, and UK veterinarians (n = 641). The results show that 48.8% of respondents estimated that 40–79% of their clients use internet resources to find medical information. Further, 70–80% of respondents stated that they are occasionally challenged by clients questioning their advice based on online information. Although veterinarians recognized the potential advantages related to clients’ use of internet resources, such as an increased acceptance of advanced diagnostics and treatments, they also highlighted clients’ increased expectations or false impressions of small animal practices as potentially negative aspects in this context. As internet use increases, it seems likely that these issues will become increasingly important in the future.
... Recent reports indicate that owners consult a vast array of pet health information sources. One study by Kogan et al. 6 which surveyed 571 UK pet owners, found popular sources of pet health advice to include the internet (78.6 per cent), veterinary surgeons (77.2 per cent), online social media/forums (56 per cent), books (29.8 per cent), friends and family (24 per cent) and breeders (7.9 per cent). Similarly, a study by Hofmeister et al. 7 found that owners were most likely to use the internet, veterinary surgeons, family and friends, magazines, television and newspapers for pet health information. ...
... Several factors, including convenience and trustworthiness, can determine why owners consult certain sources. Interestingly, Kogan et al. 6 found that owners considered veterinary surgeons the most trustworthy information source, followed by owners sharing similar experiences and then, friends or family. ...
... To date, UK or world-wide, studies on dog owners' general information-sourcing behaviour are limited, although several studies have looked at online resources relating to specific health topics in dogs 7,10-11 and general pet owner information sourcing online. 6,12 One study conducted in Finland by Leppänen et al. found owners considered temperament and behaviour to be very important, second only to health, when choosing a puppy. 13 In more recent times, purchasers' attitudes towards the health of the dogs they are buying may have changed and be influenced by the owner's choice of breed. ...
Background
Dogs are a popular pet in the UK. Information resources utilised by dog owners can influence welfare at acquisition and throughout a dog's lifetime. This study determined where UK dog owners source information, and how perceptions relating to pedigree dog breeding and health may influence this process.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study used online questionnaires to explore the information resources used by dog owners and their perceptions of veterinary surgeons’ and dog breeders’ knowledge.
Results
Overall, 1336 responses were collected (useable responses: 1167). Data indicated most owners conducted research before getting a dog, with the internet, books, breeders and friends or family among the most popular resources used. Preferred sources of information during a dogs’ lifetime included the internet, talking to veterinary surgeons and reading books. Veterinary surgeons were the most popular source for health advice. Pedigree dog owners perceived veterinary surgeons and breeders to be equally knowledgeable on canine inherited diseases. However, veterinary surgeons were perceived as being more knowledgeable on inherited disease screening programmes and breeders more knowledgeable on dog breeding.
Conclusion
This study highlights the information resources preferred by dog owners, providing an opportunity to maximise access to reliable sources of information to improve dog welfare.
... The use of the internet by clients received a lot of attention in the present study from both the pet owner and the veterinarian participants, unsurprisingly, as the internet can be the primary source of pet health information for pet owners [27], and veterinarians have previously expressed concerns over the quality of sources that pet owners find on the internet [28]. Veterinarians in the current study believed that pet owners prioritize non-veterinary sources of information, whereas pet owners described using a variety of resources to become further informed and articulated a wish for reputable sources to be provided by their veterinarians. ...
... Veterinarians in the current study believed that pet owners prioritize non-veterinary sources of information, whereas pet owners described using a variety of resources to become further informed and articulated a wish for reputable sources to be provided by their veterinarians. Research suggests most pet owners would visit a website recommended to them by their veterinarian [27], yet few are given these resources [27,29]. Additionally, when pet owners use the internet, they may be more confident in asking their veterinarian questions and feel better able to communicate with their veterinarian about their pet's health [27]. ...
... Veterinarians in the current study believed that pet owners prioritize non-veterinary sources of information, whereas pet owners described using a variety of resources to become further informed and articulated a wish for reputable sources to be provided by their veterinarians. Research suggests most pet owners would visit a website recommended to them by their veterinarian [27], yet few are given these resources [27,29]. Additionally, when pet owners use the internet, they may be more confident in asking their veterinarian questions and feel better able to communicate with their veterinarian about their pet's health [27]. ...
One of the most complex aspects of the veterinarian-client-patient interaction is the clinical decision-making process. Research suggests that the approach to communication used by veterinarians can impact veterinary clients’ involvement in the decision-making process and their ultimate satisfaction. Using different approaches to the decision-making process may affect how information is exchanged and consequently how decisions are made. The objective of this study was to determine pet owners’ expectations with respect to information exchange and decision-making during veterinarian-client-patient interactions and to compare veterinarians’ perceptions of those expectations and the challenges they face in meeting them. Five pet owner focus groups (27 owners) and three veterinarian focus groups (24 veterinarians) were conducted with standardized open-ended questions and follow-up probes. Thematic analysis of the transcribed data was conducted to identify trends and patterns that emerged during the focus groups. Three pet owner-based themes were identified: 1) understanding the client; 2) providing information suitable for the client; and 3) decision-making. In addition, three barriers for veterinarians affecting information exchange and decision-making were identified: 1) time constraints; 2) involvement of multiple clients; and 3) language barriers. Results suggest that pet owners expect to be supported by their veterinarian to make informed decisions by understanding the client’s current knowledge, tailoring information and educating clients about their options. Breakdowns in the information exchange process can impact pet owners’ perceptions of veterinarians’ motivations. Pet owners’ emphasis on partnership suggests that a collaborative approach between veterinarians and clients may improve client satisfaction.
... Although research on the changes in the veterinarian-pet owner relationship is limited, several studies have shown that pet owners increasingly wish for participation and self-education (32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Today, for most pet owners in the western world, the pet plays the role of a friend or family member (37)(38)(39). ...
... Queried pet owners ranked the Internet as the third most common source of information after veterinarians and veterinary specialists in 2008 and 2012 (55). In 2017, US and British pet owners reported that the Internet was the most frequently used source for pet health information followed by veterinarians (34,56,57). In a 2011 study by Bayer, 39% of pet owners reported that they first searched online to check if their pet needed a veterinarian (54). ...
... Therefore, there is a chance to enhance the veterinary healthcare quality and positively impact veterinarian-pet owner-relationships by means of a guided encouragement of pet owners' self-education (65,67,68). However, Kogan et al. reported that nearly half of the surveyed pet owners stated that no recommendations of reliable websites were made by their veterinarians, although more than 90% would visit veterinarian-recommended sources (34,35). Recommending accurate online information rather than trying to limit the damage of incorrect information provides an opportunity for veterinarians to actively educate their pet owners and meet their need for information (58). ...
In recent years, the web has become a widely used source for health information. Pet owners seem to respond to the supply of medical information on the Internet by increasing their self-education. However, after more than a decade of the digital revolution, little is known about the Internet's impact on the veterinarian-pet owner relationship. Recent research has raised concerns regarding the increase in self-education among pet owners. However, reasons suggest that the Internet might be a valuable source of pet-owner education for veterinarians. In particular, relationship-centered approaches of care might benefit from the information provided. Our study aimed to determine the perception of German veterinarians with regard to pet owners' self-education on different aspects of veterinary care. An online survey was conducted for German veterinarians from November 2016 to June 2017. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Within the structural equation model, we evaluated how the veterinarians' attitude toward relationship-centered care might affect the evaluation of pet owners' self-education. A total of 585 valid questionnaires were completed. The majority of veterinarians (83.6%) welcomed the principles of shared decision-making. Practically, all veterinarians reported a noticeable increase in pet owners' self-education within the last few years. Perceptions on self-education's impacts on veterinary practice varied among the participants. A beneficial impact of self-education was reported regarding the general quality of veterinary care and quality of follow-up care. Most concerns were related to a negative impact on the veterinarian-pet owner relationship and the pet owners' demands on the veterinarians' work after self-education. Moreover, many participants were afraid that unfiltered information may unsettle pet owners and, therefore, advised them against self-education. The structural equation model confirmed the hypothesis that a veterinarian's positive attitude toward shared decision-making, empathic behavior, and his/her evaluation of self-education were associated. Therefore, we concluded that while there are beneficial potentials, there seem to be barriers that prevent the effective use of the Internet as a supportive medium in veterinary care. Further research and training are needed to enable the use of the Internet as an ancillary medium.
... 11,12 Research indicates that pet owners are increasingly using the internet as an alternative to their veterinarian to obtain pet health information, including pet nutrition information. 13,14 The internet has become a prominent and influential source of both human 15 and pet 14 health information. Over 70% of the general public engage in seeking online human health information, 15,16 which potentially impacts decisions related to health behaviors. ...
... 11,12 Research indicates that pet owners are increasingly using the internet as an alternative to their veterinarian to obtain pet health information, including pet nutrition information. 13,14 The internet has become a prominent and influential source of both human 15 and pet 14 health information. Over 70% of the general public engage in seeking online human health information, 15,16 which potentially impacts decisions related to health behaviors. ...
... Over 70% of the general public engage in seeking online human health information, 15,16 which potentially impacts decisions related to health behaviors. 17 Similarly, a recent study by Kogan et al 14 shows that the most frequently used and trusted sources of pet health information ranked by pet owners in the United Kingdom are the internet (79%) followed closely by veterinarians (72%). Health topics searched for most often were medical conditions (61%) and nutrition topics (59%) 14 with veterinarian guidance on seeking credible online information welcomed by most pet owners. ...
Objective:
To assess the readability of pet obesity information, document the presence and absence of types of pet obesity information, and perform comparisons between dog and cat obesity information content on websites.
Sample:
68 websites containing pet obesity content.
Procedures:
Websites were systematically retrieved with a search engine and predefined search terms and phrases. For each website, pet obesity information was scored by use of 2 established readability tools: the simple measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) index and Flesch-Kincaid (FK) readability test. A directed content analysis was conducted with a codebook that assessed the presence or absence of 103 variables across 5 main topics related to pet obesity on each website.
Results:
The mean reading grade levels determined with the SMOG index and FK readability test were 16.61 and 9.07, respectively. Instructions for weight measurement and body condition scoring were found infrequently, as were nonmodifiable risk factors. There was a greater focus on addressing obesity through dietary changes than through increasing physical activity. Few websites recommended regular follow-up appointments with veterinarians. Weight management information and the emphasis on owners' commitment to achieve their pet's weight loss targets differed among dog- and cat-focused websites.
Conclusions and clinical relevance:
Results indicated that pet obesity information on the studied websites was largely inaccessible to pet owners owing to the associated high reading grade levels. Readers of that information would benefit from clarification of information gaps along with provision of guidance regarding navigating online information and counseling on the importance of nutritional and dietary reassessments for individual pets performed by veterinarians.
... A recent study exploring UK pet owners' use of the internet for pet health information found that the internet was the most frequently used information source, yet veterinarians were rated as more trustworthy (Kogan et al, 2018). Despite the common use of the internet for pet health information, less than 50% of participants reported frequently discussing information they found online with their veterinarian. ...
... Further research is needed to investigate the most common sources of online information among different types of pet owners and how the quality of information varies. As previous research has highlighted, pet owners often use search engines when seeking pet health information (Kogan et al, 2018). Therefore, a review of most popular content (e.g. ...
... Information prescriptions, whereby clients are directed to accurate reliable pet health information websites have been found to be positively received by clients (Solhjoo et al, 2019). Clients appreciate and utilise veterinary information prescriptions Kogan et al, 2018) suggesting that they can be a useful tool for veterinary nurses to incorporate into their client communications. ...
Background
Most research investigating online pet health information has focused on the views of veterinarians or clients with little attention given to the views of veterinary nurses.
Aims
To investigate the views of UK veterinary nurses in relation to pet owners’ use of online pet health information.
Methods
An anonymous online survey was distributed via social media platforms.
Results
Most respondents report thinking that less than half of their clients understand what they read about pet health online, yet the majority do not provide pet health website information to their clients. Conclusions
Most responding veterinary nurses feel online pet health information has a negative impact on the client/veterinary nurse relationships. It is suggested that veterinary nurses take a proactive role via information prescriptions to guide information seeking behaviours of pet owners.
... Animal owners search the Internet for information regarding their pet's health [1], partly due to the substantial workload of veterinarians in Germany and elsewhere, which jeopardizes emergency services [2]. However, online animal health information quality varies, e.g. is sometimes inaccurate or incomplete [1]. ...
... Animal owners search the Internet for information regarding their pet's health [1], partly due to the substantial workload of veterinarians in Germany and elsewhere, which jeopardizes emergency services [2]. However, online animal health information quality varies, e.g. is sometimes inaccurate or incomplete [1]. ...
Animal owners may increasingly rely on large language models for gathering animal health information alongside internet sources in the future. This study therefore aims to provide initial results on the accuracy of ChatGPT-4o in triage and tentative diagnostics, using horses as a case study. Ten test vignettes were used to prompt situation assessments from the tool, which were then compared to original assessments made by a veterinary specialist for horses. The most probable diagnosis suggested by ChatGPT-4o was found to be quite accurate in most cases, with the urgency to contact a veterinarian sometimes assessed as higher than necessary. When provided with all relevant information, the tool does not seem to compromise horse health by recommending excessively long waiting times, although there is still potential for improving the relief of veterinarians’ workload.
... To understand how owners process information relating to health risks in their chosen breed, we need to understand how pet dog owners access and use health-related information. Pet owners have shown a preference for information which is more accessible, faster and anonymous [14]. Many owners are turning to online sources to gain more information about their pet. ...
... Social media groups offer broader perspectives, anecdotal evidence and quick information gathering, potentially enhancing decision-making and altering attitudes [18]. It has been found that pet owners consider social media as a primary source of health information [14,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Paradoxically, many owners do not see health information on social media as reliable [19] and have trouble understanding the information [24,27]. ...
Simple Summary
Breeds of dog with short noses, such as the French Bulldog, are increasingly popular. However, a number of health problems resulting from having this facial structure are leading to growing concerns about the welfare of these breeds. Understanding the owners of these breeds can provide important information as to how best to inform owners of these risks. In this study we wanted to know if owners of short-nosed dog breeds may use dog breed groups on social media in a different way from owners of non-short-nosed dog breeds (e.g., Labradors). We selected six dog breeds (three short-nosed and three non-short-nosed) and identified two breed groups for each breed. We then extracted the first 20 posts in relation to common health issues affecting these breeds. Owners of non-short-nosed faced dogs appeared to know more about common health issues affecting their breed than owners of short-nosed breeds. Owners of short-nosed dog breeds elicit more social support from their social media breed group, than the owners of non-short-nosed dog breeds. There appears to be greater emotionality of content associated with ownership of a short-nosed breed.
Abstract
As brachycephalic dog breed ownership increases, there is a growing concern for the welfare of these breeds due to extreme brachycephalism. Understanding the motivations and behaviours of those choosing to own these breeds is important if we wish to address these concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate how owners of brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog breeds use social media dog breed groups to discuss common health issues. The purpose of Facebook posts in relation to common health issues, owner awareness of health issues and the role of Facebook facilitated social support were explored between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog owners. Twelve Facebook breed goups were selected (brachycephalic breed groups, n = 6, non-brachycephalic breed groups, n = 6). Using key word searches we extracted the first twenty posts from each group. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: advice seeking, advice giving and community bonding mechanisms. Whilst the purpose of posting did not differ between groups, non-brachycephalic owners appeared to display greater awareness of breed-specific health issues, whilst social support played a more prominent role in brachycephalic groups. This research highlights that social media groups can act as platforms for knowledge exchange and emotional support. These could be utilised by owners, veterinarians and welfare organisations to more effectively enhance dog health and wellbeing.
... These findings are supported by a recent cross-sectional online survey that found that many respondents (18.8%) did a general internet search but only 3.8% contacted a veterinary practice before acquiring their dog (n = 895) [41]. Another online survey also found that most (78.6%, n = 571) owners reported using the internet for pet health information rather than a vet [42]. Given the significant potential for obtaining inaccurate information online, these findings suggest a concerning trend and more research is required to establish whether those who seek information online are doing so from reliable sources. ...
... The 2022 PAW Report showed that only 18% of pet owners looked into the cost of pet ownership before acquiring their pet and 40% thought that keeping a pet was expensive and only 14% of pet owners had heard of the five welfare needs [16]. Studies have also shown that owners who demonstrate less knowledge and understanding are less likely to seek help from reliable sources compared to those with more knowledge and understanding [41,42], and that there are significant challenges in deciding whether or not their dog is the correct weight [30,32]. This study confirms their assertions and shows an association between these factors and pre-acquisition behaviours, something that has only previously been hypothesised. ...
Simple Summary
There are around 11 million pet dogs in the United Kingdom, yet there is more to learn about how best to ensure their welfare needs are met. We know that owners have an impact on their dog’s well-being and studies have suggested that what people do before they get their dog can subsequently impact their dog’s welfare. We used data collected by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) for the 2017 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, the primary nationally representative means of monitoring the well-being of pets in the UK. We investigated associations between how much research people did before they got their dog and what they did or thought about. We found that owners who did more research before getting their dog were likely to be younger or have a higher education level. They were also more likely to have heard of the ‘five welfare needs’, have a realistic idea of the cost of owning a dog, and know the best place to go for help with their dog’s behaviour. These findings help us understand what influences dog owners and suggest that doing more research before getting a dog is linked to improved knowledge, understanding, and behaviours.
Abstract
Despite many dogs living in homes in the UK, there is still more to know about the welfare of those individual animals. Past research has shown that owners’ thoughts and behaviours have a substantial impact on their dog’s welfare. This study aimed to better understand owners’ pre-purchase behaviours, knowledge and understanding, and ownership practices, and explore any associations between these factors and their dog’s welfare. We conducted further analysis of the data collected by People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) for their 2017 PDSA Animal Welfare (PAW) Report (n = 1814). We extracted variables to describe owner demographics (7), pre-purchase behaviours (1), knowledge and understanding (4), welfare indicators, (2) and ownership practices (4), and we tested for an association between these variables. We found more pre-purchase research was carried out by younger respondents and those with a higher education level. Also, more research was associated with feeling more informed about the five welfare needs and knowing to seek help for behaviour from appropriate sources. Overall, the study found several novel and significant results worthy of note and further exploration but did not find any strong connections between the variables.
... To understand how owners process information relating to health risks in their chosen breed, we need to understand how pet dog owners access and use related health information. Pet owners have shown a preference for information which is more accessible, faster and anonymous [14]. Many owners are turning to online sources to gain more information about their pet. ...
... Social media groups offer broader perspectives, anecdotal evidence and quick information gathering, potentially enhancing decision-making and altering attitudes [18]. It has been found that pet owners consider social media as a primary source of health information [14,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Paradoxically, many owners do not see health information on social media as reliable [19] and have trouble understanding the information [24,27]. ...
As brachycephalic dog breed ownership increases, there is a growing concern for the welfare of these breeds due to extreme brachycephalism. Understanding the motivations and behaviours of those choosing to own these breeds is important if we wish to address these concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate how owners of brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog breeds use social media dog breed groups to discuss common health issues. The purpose of Facebook posts in relation to common health issues, owner awareness of health issues, and the role of Facebook facilitated social support were explored between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog owners. Twelve Facebook breed groups were selected (brachycephalic breed groups, n=6, non-brachycephalic breed groups, n=6). Using key word searches we extracted the first twenty posts from each group. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: advice seeking, advice giving and community bonding mechanisms. Whilst the purpose of posting did not differ between groups, non-brachycephalic owners appeared to display greater awareness of breed-specific health issues, whilst social support played a more prominent role in brachycephalic groups. This research highlights that social media groups can act as platforms for knowledge exchange and emotional support. These could be utilised by owners, veterinarians and welfare organisations to more effectively enhance dog health and wellbeing.
... The average ARC RCS for all study descriptions was 14.13 (range, [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Thirteen studies (21%) had an ARC RCS of 12 or under, that is, (Figure 1). ...
... [10][11][12][13] The Internet has become one of the most popular sources of health information, with 59%-80% of adults using the internet to search for health-related questions for themselves or their pets. [14][15][16] The study descriptions selected for this study were intended to represent the average owner's experience when searching for veterinary clinical study information online, presuming that most owners search using Google or by seeking out the websites of their regional veterinary college or veterinary specialty clinics. Although the readability level of veterinary clinical study descriptions from universities was statistically significantly higher than those from private practices in 2 of the scores, the difference in readability was less than 2 grade levels and for both groups was well above recommended levels. ...
Background
Owner comprehension is vital to recruitment and study success, but limited information exists regarding the readability of public‐facing veterinary clinical trial descriptions.
Objectives
The current study sought to evaluate the readability of public‐facing online veterinary clinical trial descriptions from academic institutions and private referral practices.
Animals
None.
Methods
This prospective study assessed readability in a convenience sample of veterinary clinical trial study descriptions using 3 common methods: the Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level (F‐K), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and online Automatic Readability Checker (ARC). Results were compared across specialties and between academic and private institutions.
Results
Grade level and readability consensus scores (RCSs) were obtained for 61 online clinical trial descriptions at universities (n = 49) and private practices (n = 12). Average grade‐level RCS for study descriptions was 14.13 (range, 9‐21). Using Microsoft Word, the FRES score was higher in descriptions from universities compared to private practices (P = .03), and F‐K scores were lower in university compared to private practice descriptions (P = .03). FRES (P = .07), F‐K (P = .12), and readability consensus (P = .17) scores obtained from ARC were not different between institution types. Forty‐eight studies (79%) had RCSs over 12, equivalent to reading material at college or graduate school levels.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Similar to other areas in veterinary communication, the evaluated veterinary clinical trial descriptions used for advertising and recruitment far exceeded the recommended 6th‐grade reading level for medical information. Readability assessments are straightforward to conduct, and ensuring health literacy should be a customary best practice in veterinary medicine and clinical research.
... At least three quarters of adults use the internet for health-related information regarding human health [55] and a similar number (76.4%) is reported for pet health information in a US sample [56]. Whereas, the results from a UK sample show that for 78.6% of information seekers the Internet is the most frequently used information source [57]. This practice can be highly problematic, because it is difficult to assess the quality of the gathered information, there are no regulations for health-related information online (although concepts existed) and a differential diagnostic process cannot be replaced by an online search engine. ...
... Veterinarians from a European sample (AT, DK and UK) seem to be well aware that a large group of animal handlers searches online for information [62]. Around three quarters of them report that their professional advice is occasionally questioned by animal handlers [62], which is especially interesting taking into consideration that most pet owners from another UK sample mention that they discuss online information with their veterinarian "sometimes" [57]. ...
Simple Summary
Veterinarians work in a very complex profession; they operate within a triad (veterinarian, animal and animal handler) to take care of the animal. Stress and confrontations with a large variety of demands lead to a high risk for mental health problems. To gather additional insights on stressors we conducted a systematic review using several scientific databases indexing published studies of the last decade. The aim of the process was to structure stressors and burdens based on existing models to see potential gaps in research and find starting points for interventions. After employing a variety of exclusion criteria, 30 studies published in the last decade were included in the review and stressors were be grouped in biological, psychological and social stressors. Overall, most stressors were found in the social category which include interactions with animal handlers. This result indicates that communication with animal handlers is one of the main stressors in the veterinarian practice. Veterinarians need interventions that are tailored to their need to lower the risks for mental health disorders and ultimately suicide. With regards to the results more training of communication techniques might be an example for a starting point to decrease the burden for veterinarians. Although several dynamics of stressors, how they interact, is still unclear, research has found enough evidence to develop more specifically designed health promotion measures.
Abstract
Veterinary medicine is a highly complex profession that includes a very specific set of stressors that range from individual to social aspects, with several of them being relevant risk factors for a variety of conditions. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and cluster the material on stressors and suicidality in the veterinarian practice published during the last 10 years. The systematic review was conducted employing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using PubMed, PsycNet, Google Scholar, Medline, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX and Web of Science (2012–present) by two independent researchers resulting in the inclusion of 30 quantitative and mixed methods studies. Results of these studies on stressors were categorized using the bio-psycho-social model showing that social stressors play a prominent role. This category includes the largest number of stressors indicating that the human–human interactions in the veterinarian practice are the main stressor, underlining that training in communication techniques is a potential starting point for interventions. In addition to stressors, the results showed an additional category “psychological consequences” describing mental health disorders and suicide. Although there are still gaps in research there is enough evidence to establish more tailored health promotion measures for veterinarians.
... 1 In the US, 82% of pet owners use the internet daily, with 73% occasionally using it for obtaining pet health information. 2 This information is used to decide the need for a veterinary consultation 3 and to help understand health conditions or to make informed choices. 2 Most searches are aimed at medical conditions, diet and nutrition, and behavior, [1][2][3][4] to provide better pet care 5 motivated by curiosity, need for education, deciding on the need for veterinary visits, clarifying information provided by the veterinarian, wanting a second opinion, looking for support from other pet owners, while others reported not believing or agreeing with information provided by their veterinarian. 2,3,6 However, evidence on these motivations is limited, to the best of the author's knowledge, to English speaking countries and has never been assessed organically on visitors of a pet information website. ...
... Similarly, previous assessments conducted in English speaking pet owners identified the main medicals conditions, diet and nutrition, behavior, and improving pet care as the principal topics searched online. [1][2][3][4][5] These studies have identified motivations as curiosity and education, deciding the need of veterinary visits, clarifying information provided by the veterinarian, wanting a second opinion, looking for support from other pet owners, and not believing or agreeing with information provided by the veterinarian. 2,3,6 Conversely, the self-reported motivations in the current study were the lack of access to veterinary care due to cost and looking for similar experiences from other pet owners. ...
Internet use for pet health information is increasing in popularity among pet owners. So far, evidence on motivations and topics of interest is limited to surveys on English speaking countries. The objective was to evaluate the motivations of Portuguese-speaking pet owners when visiting a pet information website, written by a certified veterinarian. In situ needs and motivations of visitors were evaluated by classifying online questions (n=202) and conducting a short questionnaire in the website sidebar (n=453). Most pet owners were looking for general advice (73.9%), especially on systems with visible disease signs, being motivated by the lack of access to veterinary services due to costs (17.7%), support from other pet owners (11.3%), and complementing the insufficient information provided by the veterinarian (7.7%). Brazilians reported more lack of veterinary access due to costs compared to Portuguese respondents. Thus, Portuguese-speaking pet owners engaged in online searches to seek affordable veterinary care, better information, and emotional support.
... [1][2][3] Following this trend, veterinarians increasingly make use of social media to raise their profile and promote their business online. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Compared to other means, social media platforms stand out in terms of affordability and the opportunity to reach specific groups of interested people. 8 That in turn promises to increase engagement by promoting trustful and long-standing relationships between the client and the veterinarian and/or the veterinary practice. ...
... Previous studies with animal owners investigated the use of social media to gather information about pet health. 7,11,12 For example, in a study from the US, UK and Canada, approximately half of dog and cat owners used Facebook to obtain pet health information. 12 Furthermore, over 50% of dog and cat owners used Facebook to post pet health information for other Facebook users. ...
Background:
Social media is increasingly used in small animal practice, enabling veterinarians to connect with clients and promote their business online. It can also be used by clients to quickly distribute complaints via online communities.
Material/methods:
Using a questionnaire study we investigated Austrian, Danish and UK veterinarians' attitudes towards Facebook, the contents of clients' online complaints and how they were handled by veterinarians (N = 648).
Results:
In Denmark and the UK, around 90% of practices had a Facebook page, in contrast to 40% of Austrian practices. Most Danish and UK veterinarians agreed that the use of Facebook was relevant and expected by clients. Agreement was lower among Austrian veterinarians, probably reflecting the lower uptake of social media there. In particular, younger veterinarians and those who actively used Facebook for the practice, could see benefits. In all three countries, we found that clients most frequently complained about treatment costs. Most veterinarians preferred to actively deal with clients' complaints, either replying online or discussing them directly.
Conclusions:
We recommend future research focusing on veterinarians' personal use of social media and on clients' use of and attitudes towards social media in the veterinary context.
... In a survey of UK pet owners, the internet was most frequently cited as a source of pet health information (78.6% of clients), with vets being the second most frequently cited (77.2%). However, it should be noted that vets were still thought of as the most trustworthy source of information for pet health (Kogan et al., 2018). The authors went on to report that approximately half (49.6%) of clients reported having never received website recommendations from their vet although almost all of the participants (95%) reported they would be likely or very likely to visit them if told the name or address of a pet health website. ...
... One driver for seeking pet health information on the internet is due to client uncertainty regarding when to seek advice, or what constitutes a veterinary emergency, therefore turning to the internet for advice or reassurance (Kogan et al., 2018). In medicine, seeking healthcare information on the internet has been shown to alter the patient's decision-making (Chen et al., 2018). ...
The consultation is an important and ubiquitous interaction in veterinary practice although the definition of a ‘good’ small animal veterinary consultation has yet to be identified. Using a mixed methods approach, this PhD thesis aimed to define what constitutes a good small animal veterinary consultation, identify important constituents, and ascertain which of these could be measured. A systematic review identified limited good-quality evidence for the appraisal of success of small animal, health problem consultations, with adherence, client satisfaction and vet satisfaction the only published outcome measures available. Subsequently, a qualitative study investigated the perceptions of key consultation stakeholders and proposed a definition for the good consultation as one where “there is balance; an appropriate shared-decision is reached through two-way communication, all stakeholders are in agreement regarding the next steps, with the patient’s welfare maintained or improved. This study argued for a re-definition of shared decision-making and a reframing of consultation skills teaching, to place greater emphasis on decision- making. The final study appraised consultation assessment instruments and assessed their suitability for use in further academic studies and in general practice, validating the use of a visual analogue scale as a simplified measure of satisfaction. The final chapter of this thesis addressed numerous recurring findings, including mismatches in stakeholder expectations, trust and satisfaction with recommendations made for the veterinary profession and veterinary educators.
... Equine vets are not alone in this. In a recent study of online searching for pet health information, UK pet owners reported that their veterinarian never recommended specific websites that they could go to look for additional information, but over 90% of these owners said they would visit specific websites if they had been recommended by their vet [32]. Given the apparent preference for organisations to make information and guidelines accessible via the internet, having specific sites recommended by veterinarians may help people to direct their online searches to more reliable resources. ...
... Lam et al. [33] also suggested that there was a lack of transfer of information from veterinarians to horse owners and explored this issue further in their review. Veterinarians are recognised as trusted information sources within [36,37] and outside [32,38,39] the equine community. Capitalising on this, by disseminating recent equine welfare research findings to veterinarians to ensure their knowledge is up to date, will facilitate their role as a highly effective conduit of evidence-based advice for horse owners. ...
Simple Summary
To ensure that up to date equine welfare advice is communicated as effectively as possible, it is important to understand where equine stakeholders seek information and their preferences for the way that information is communicated. In this study we surveyed horse owners, equine veterinarians, and livery yard owners. We found that although the three groups differed in the information sources they used most frequently, there was a tendency to consult other people rather than organisations, or digital and printed resources. There was a preference for information to be communicated in a neutral or positive way. Horse owners in particular would like practical information on the process of implementing equine welfare improvements included alongside the information. Equine veterinarians are important sources of information for all three stakeholder groups.
Abstract
Information on the management of animals within domestic environments is freely available to animal owners and caregivers either online, or in paper form by request. However, awareness is growing within the animal welfare sector that simply providing written guidelines or educational material is not enough to affect a positive change in owners in relation to animal welfare. In the quest to improve equine welfare, understanding the way that owners and other stakeholders seek information and their communication preferences is key to effective dissemination of up to date equine welfare information and research findings. Three UK equine stakeholder groups—horse owners, livery yard owners, and equine veterinarians—were surveyed online to find out where they sought equine information. Their awareness of equine welfare Codes of Practice, how they respond when they are asked to give advice to horse owners and their communication preferences were included within the survey. All three stakeholder groups tended to seek information from people rather than from organisations, or digital and printed resources. Veterinarians were the most used information source across all three stakeholder groups This highlighted the importance of ensuring that equine veterinarians have access to up to date, evidence-based equine welfare information. While the majority of participants were aware of the equine welfare Code of Practice, fewer had actually read it, this was true particularly amongst horse owners. The primary reasons for this were the features of the Code as well as the issuing organisation. The stakeholders expressed a preference for information to be communicated in a neutral or positive way rather than focusing on negative aspects. Our findings suggest that industry professionals, particularly veterinarians, have an important role to play in knowledge transfer and the dissemination of research findings to horse owners. The efficacy of equine welfare communication could be improved if the information delivery preferences of equine stakeholders are were taken into consideration.
... They suggested that practices, such as microchipping, neutering, and socialisation, were more likely to occur if the views of friends and family supported these activities [51]. Equally, Kogan, et al. [99] investigated the use of the internet in finding pet health information and found that not just vets, but other pet owners, were rated as the most trustworthy sources of information by owners. ...
... However, somewhat surprisingly, the use of the internet by UK pet owners for finding information on animal healthcare has only recently started to be explored. Kogan, et al.'s [99] survey of pet owners reported that, of a sample of 571 respondents, 78.6% used the internet to find health information about their pets, but very few veterinarians actually recommended any websites to clients. This means that owners may well be looking at inaccurate information online and by veterinarians acknowledging that owners look for information online, they may be able to direct this searching to ensure that owners find the right information for their dog's needs. ...
Simple Summary
The welfare of most dogs living in homes is largely unknown. However, national surveys carried out by animal welfare charities and findings by animal welfare researchers have shown significant deterioration in some key aspects of dog welfare. For example, more dogs presenting to vets with behavioural problems, obesity, and ill-health due to poor breeding practices. This means that some dogs are suffering due to their owners’ behaviours or ownership practices. Educating dog owners as to how best to look after their dogs is, and has been seen by many, as key to improving the welfare of dogs living in homes. However, the concept of education, the context in which it occurs, and the lack of systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of education interventions means that nobody really knows if this approach works. This paper explores these concepts and draws together a wide range of sources of information to highlight some of the complexities of improving dog welfare by educating owners.
Abstract
Vets, animal welfare charities, and researchers have frequently cited educating owners as a necessity for improving the welfare of companion dogs. The assumption that improving an owner’s knowledge through an education intervention subsequently results in improvements in the welfare of the dog appears reasonable. However, the complexity of dog welfare and dog ownership and the context in which these relationships occur is rapidly changing. Psychology has demonstrated that humans are complex, with values, attitudes, and beliefs influencing our behaviours as much as knowledge and understanding. Equally, the context in which we individuals and our dogs live is rapidly changing and responding to evolving societal and cultural norms. Therefore, we seek to understand education’s effectiveness as an approach to improving welfare through exploring and understanding these complexities, in conjunction with the relevant research from the disciplines of science education and communication. We argue that well designed and rigorously evaluated education interventions can play a part in the challenge of improving welfare, but that these may have limited scope, and welfare scientists could further consider extending cross-disciplinary, cross-boundary working, and research in order to improve the welfare of companion dogs.
... Maintaining a dog's health requires access to veterinary care, but financial barriers, especially post-pandemic, highlight the need for reliable information (8,9). However, many pet owners rely on the internet for veterinary advice, which may be inaccurate (10)(11)(12). Some drugs, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are safe for humans but potentially harmful to animals (13,14). ...
In many homes worldwide, dogs are considered part of the family. Every possible care is given to animals, including drug treatments. However, many animal guardians, in an attempt to minimize pain or improve the quality of life of their dogs, provide drugs without a veterinarian’s prescription. Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that acts on cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes, is associated with several adverse events, especially related to the gastrointestinal tract, both in humans and pet animals. Therefore, the availability of information about the effects of this drug in different species is always essential. This narrative review aims to present adverse reactions the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) can suffer when exposed to diclofenac. Scientific publications, books, and case reports were consulted, and inquiries were also carried out with regulatory agencies. Many reports of suspected adverse reactions, especially related to the gastrointestinal tract, were found. Other clinical manifestations and lesions were also identified in the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, and hematological examinations. Therefore, diclofenac may constitute a hazard to dogs, mainly due to possible damage to the gastrointestinal tract. This fact reinforces the need to seek veterinary advice before providing any drug to animals, in addition to recommendations on ensuring the correct storage of medications to avoid accidental exposure.
... These sentiments echo findings in earlier studies. [28][29][30] It appears that, despite the growing amount of pet-related health information on the internet and social media and the advent of AI (eg, ChatGPT), owners still prefer their veterinarian for pet health information. Another important finding is the fact that 89% of owners indicated that they would like a veterinarian who is proactive in reminding them about their dog's PHC needs. ...
OBJECTIVE
Gain a better understanding of dog owners’ knowledge and interest level for 13 preventative healthcare (PHC) topics. Examine the potential predictive value of owners’ satisfaction with how their veterinarian communicates about PHC topics and perceived veterinarian-related trust and empathy and frequency of PHC veterinary visits.
METHODS
An electronic survey was created in Qualtrics and distributed to dog owners within the US via a link offered in Prolific, an open online marketplace whereby respondents receive small monetary compensation for completing surveys.
RESULTS
A total of 738 participants completed the survey, all of whom were dog owners living in the US. Owners reported knowing the most about the importance of mental engagement, how to assess their dog’s everyday quality of life, vaccines, and parasites. Owners were most interested in learning more about how to assess their dog’s everyday quality of life, importance of mental enrichment, diseases related to their dog’s breed, and senior care. Veterinarians were the primary source of information for 13 of 14 topics. Owners’ satisfaction with how PHC information is discussed was a significant predictor for perceived veterinarian empathy and trustworthiness, as well as frequency of PHC visits.
CONCLUSIONS
Dog owners understand the value of PHC and look to their veterinarian for this information. Satisfaction with PHC dissemination predicts owners’ views of their veterinarian’s trustworthiness and empathy.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Dissemination of PHC information can improve animal health and well-being not only directly but also indirectly through its impact on owners’ perceptions of their veterinarian.
... Nevertheless, a systematic literature review by the authors indicates that such systems are scarcely available for animal owners, particularly within equine medicine. Instead, animal owners frequently rely on the Internet as an information source [2], which poses several risks associated with incomplete or unverified information [3]. These risks are particularly significant given that many pet owners lack specialized knowledge in animal health [4]. ...
Introduction:
Existing research agrees that a well-thought design of the user interface is a key point for an mHealth application for animal owners, supporting them obtain information and make decisions regarding their pet's specific situation. However, there is currently a lack of specific advice on the design of such an application.
Methods:
As part of a user-centered design (UCD) process, a formative, explorative usability test with n = 5 users was conducted for collecting design ideas. The test was conducted for two applications that were already available on the market.
Results:
The need of supporting comprehensive information input in guided processes that can be adapted to the individual level of knowledge, was identified as a key aspect.
Conclusion:
In this paper, recommendations for the design of a suitable user interface are suggested to support application developers and designers.
... Research indicates that pet owners are increasingly using online sources to learn about their pets' behavior, medical conditions, and treatment options [34,35]. As pet owners click on veterinary websites, they form first impressions that influence how they perceive the veterinary hospital and staff [36]. ...
Approximately 60% of the U.S. population own at least one pet, and many pet owners turn to the internet, including veterinary clinic websites, for pet health information. The pictures on these websites, and how accurately they reflect the racial diversity of their communities, have not been studied. This study assessed the perceived skin color of people depicted on veterinary websites to determine how well they represent their geographical area. Each photograph was rated, using the Fitzpatrick skin ratings, on a scale from 1 to 6, with 1 to 3 reflecting ‘White’ and 4 to 6 reflecting ‘Person of Color.’ The number of pictures categorized as ‘White’ was 638 (85.8%) and those categorized as ‘Person of Color’ was 106 (14.2%). For client/pet owner pictures, a total of 121 (80.2%) were categorized as ‘White’ and 30 (19.9%) were categorized as ‘Person of Color.’ The findings from this study reveal a glaring lack of racial diversity and representation among the images of people displayed on the websites of veterinary clinics that provide care within predominantly Black U.S. communities. One step that veterinary clinics could take to rectify this issue would be to partner with members of their communities to gather guidance on how to transform their social media presence to reflect their clients’ identities and needs more accurately.
... The ready availability of the internet and social media may make it easier than ever for a dog guardian to obtain advice which may be inaccurate or potentially harmful to dogs [33]. When asked for their main source of pet health information, most pet owners reported that they searched the internet, but respondents recognized that the most trustworthy source was their veterinarian followed by friends and family members [34]. ...
Simple Summary
Recent research has focused on the welfare implications of differing dog training methodologies, but there is less insight into how dog guardians may train their dogs. The aim of this survey study was to gain insight into what training methods dog guardians use, particularly the use of aversive methods, and where they received their recommendations.
Abstract
While there has been recent attention in the scientific community on the ethical and welfare implications of different dog training methods, less research has investigated what methods and training tools United States dog guardians use, where they obtain information about dog training, and the reasons they give for their choices of method. We conducted two surveys with nearly 800 Arizona State University undergraduate students to gain a more realistic look into how dog guardians in the United States train their dogs and where they are receiving their training information. Only 5% of respondents reported utilizing a trainer when they had concerns regarding their dog’s behavior; 60% would ask a friend or family member or seek advice online. Few reported taking their dog to any training classes; 70% reported either training the dog themselves or not implementing any formal training. When asked general questions, most respondents reported using rewards-based methods but, when asked about specific problem behaviors, 57% of respondents noted that they would use auditory or physical corrections. Respondents who trained with rewards-based methods reported that these methods of training were more effective significantly more frequently than those who trained with mixed methods reported that those methods were most effective (Fisher’s Exact Test, p < 0.01).
... Apart from the source and usage of information related to pet health, some studies have reported the outcomes of pet guardians' information interactions. For example, a survey conducted in the UK by Kogan et al. (2018) reported that online pet health information helped half of the respondent better understand their pet's health issues and communicate with their veterinarian about their pet's health. ...
Background:
Studies on information behaviour related to companion animal's (pet) health have been carried out in different contexts and there have been attempts to modify and idealize these information behaviours.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to apply the Pet Health Information Behaviour Intervention model in an empirical context and elaborate the theoretical contribution of the model to information behaviour research in the context of pet care and management.
Methods:
All the variables of the proposed model were quantified and tested through case study research involving 20 participants. Each case consisted of a guardian who participated in the information intervention program with their cat(s) and/or dog(s) in a small animal hospital, with a follow-up interview after 2 weeks.
Results:
The information prescription helped both the experienced Internet searchers and the less health literate guardians. The pet guardians were particularly appreciative of the advice on evaluating and using online health information. The higher guardian-pet bond, the more the participant used the tips to search online information. The information prescription helped the relationship with the veterinary professional through improved data gathering and perception of the professional-guardian partnership.
Conclusion:
The model will assist both information professionals and animal health providers to better design and evaluate information interventions that support pet welfare.
... Kogan, Hazel, and Oxley (2019) reported that, in Australia, the owners of companion animals often get information from the internet and that the role of the companion animal veterinarian is to point out which internet sources are reliable (Kogan et al., 2019(Kogan et al., , 2012. In another study, Kogan, Oxley, Hellyer, Schoenfeld, and Rishniw (2018) found that, in the UK, the owners of companion animals rated the veterinarian as the most reliable source of information, but also that their veterinarian almost 50% of the time never indicated which websites were reliable, even though 90% of the respondents said they would visit the websites advised by their veterinarian. Kogan, Oxley, Hellyer, and Schoenfeld-Tacher (2017) also found that companion animal owners often do not understand what they read on the internet. ...
As part of a wider research on animal welfare, a global survey was developed to gain insight into the opinion of companion animal veterinarians about animal welfare education, namely to investigate i) their exposure to animal welfare teaching during their undergraduate education, ii) their access to continuing professional education on animal welfare, and iii) their opinions on clients' sources of information on animal welfare. The survey was distributed to companion animal veterinarians around the world. The results were highly influenced by the large numbers of respondents who trained in the Russian Federation, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or the United States of America. Worldwide, 58.4% of the respondents thought that animal welfare was poorly covered or not taught at all when they were students. The best coverage of animal welfare was in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most companion animal veterinarians (65.3%) had access to continuing education on animal welfare, but there were small differences between the six above-mentioned countries. Companion animal veterinarians get information on animal welfare mainly from the internet and veterinary conferences/meetings, and thought that their clients obtained animal welfare information from various sources. The findings show that there is a need to improve education on animal welfare in veterinary curricula and the provision of relevant continuing education, so that companion animal practitioners can keep abreast of developments and societal expectations.
... We have hypothesized that there is little advice on behavior and optimal husbandry for domestic cats provided overall during many veterinary visits. Pet owners generally seem to consult internet sources regarding pet health information more often than the veterinarian (Kogan, Oxley, Hellyer, Schoenfeld, & Rishniw, 2018;Volk et al., 2011). We therefore hypothesized that the veterinarian may not be the contact of choice for cat owners when it comes to questions about cat behavior because the owners' expectations of veterinary advice are not met. ...
Veterinarians play an important role in establishing and sharing the welfare of companion animals by carrying out regular health checks and informing owners about the specific needs of the animal's environment and conditions of good husbandry. A survey among German cat owners revealed which role advice about cat behavior plays in daily practice and its influence on the cat owner's compliance. Some owners (29.6%, n = 263/889) reported behavioral problems in their cat. Not all owners considered their veterinarian as their contact of choice for behavioral advice, although veterinarians who met owners' expectations for advice on cat behavior are significantly more often described as feline-friendly (P < 0.000). Owners who expected an empathetic treatment of their cat will show a better compliance (P = 0.003). Owner compliance can be improved by providing accurate and effective veterinary advice about cat behavior and behavioral problems (P = 0.003). Thus, a sound foundation in cat behavior and knowledge of current treatment recommendations for feline behavioral problems can be worthwhile to ensure good husbandry for cats.
... However, owners' awareness of existing guidance is uncertain, and increased availability and accessibility of such tools should be promoted. In a study by Kogan et al., 24 most owners reported checking online resources for signs of legitimacy 'almost always' or 'most of the time', however these data were self-reported. Conversely, a study by Eysenbach and Kohler 25 found that human health consumers varied in their assessment of webpage credibility, and many could not later recall the origin of information found. ...
Background
Many dog owners turn to the internet for pet care advice. As internet resources can positively or negatively influence owners’ decision making and thus impact dogs’ welfare, the identification of trustworthy information online is crucial.
Methods
A scoping review was conducted in 2014, and repeated in 2021, to assess the availability and quality indicators of information resources generated from Google searches using empirically derived dog owner internet search terms.
Results
A total of 121 unique resources were identified from 300 search hits in 2014, compared to 102 in 2021. On both occasions, the resources identified covered most aspects of dog care and related to all ages and breeds of dog. Flesch Kincaid readability scores indicated the majority to be easily understandable. However, many resources did not offer supporting evidence or a reference list, and the minority of resources stated an author. Of the resources identified in 2014, only 10% (n = 12/121) were dated, compared to 45% in 2021 (n = 46/102).
Conclusion
This study found that while a great deal of information on caring for a new dog or puppy is available online, reliable indicators of quality were lacking, posing a barrier to owners’ identification of trustworthy information.
... Google" (i.e., search the Internet) for veterinary care information (e.g., [7]). A survey conducted in the U.K. reported participants turned to the internet more than a veterinarian for pet health information [8]. Another survey distributed to U.S. veterinary clinics and their clients found 73% of pet owner participants used the internet for veterinary care information [9]. ...
Mars Petcare introduced the first direct-to-consumer domestic dog genetic test in 2009 and Basepaws introduced the first direct-to-consumer cat genetic test in 2016. Social science research has evaluated numerous aspects of the human direct-to-consumer market, yet no such exploration has evaluated the occurrence of pet owners pursuing pet genetic tests. Using a mixed methods approach, we conducted an exploratory content analysis of direct-to-consumer pet genetic company webpages and consumer reviews shared on Amazon. Initial data reviews indicated some companies may be key industry players, relative to others. Our results present content frequency for each group (key industry players, all other companies), though the primary themes for each remained the same. Analysis showed genetic companies are primarily sharing product and purchasing information, along with trustworthiness to establish the merit of the company and their products. Companies also used statements directed towards pet owners that are suggestive of both pets and “pet parents” benefiting from the test results. The primary themes identified in consumer reviews involved consumers sharing their perception about the tests (e.g., accuracy), what aspects of the test results they focused on (e.g., breed information), and experiences with using the test (e.g., ease of use). Amazon reviews were primarily positive, though the companies with smaller review numbers had higher percentages of negative and ambiguous sentiments. Of interest, reviews most often indicated tests were being used to determine a pet’s breed identity, while companies most frequently promoted the health advantages of using their products. Reviews revealed some consumers respond to tests by sharing their pet’s results with someone or by altering their pet’s care. Considering these results in addition to the growing popularity of this industry and the advancements of genomic technology, further research is needed to determine the role pet genetic testing may have in society and on human-animal relationships.
... Several working groups have reported that the veterinariananimal owner relationship is changing, with animal owners increasingly seeking more information and involvement (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The success of veterinary care in terms of compliance and animal health depends on the satisfaction of the animal's owner (16). ...
The aims of this study were to investigate the role of the veterinarian characteristics (e.g., age, gender, self-estimation, use of the internet), and their attitudes concerning animal owners seeking self-information. A particular focus was laid on any association between shared decision making (SDM), age and gender. In an online survey, 527 German veterinarians were asked about their attitude regarding SDM principles and their experiences with self-informed animal owners. The factors associated with veterinarians' perception of SDM were investigated in a multivariable linear regression model. A recently published structural equation model consolidated the application of SDM, empathic behavior, and veterinarians' evaluation of self-education as latent factors. Interconnected questionnaire items were processed using an exploratory factor analysis to 11 interpretable factors. Veterinarians who assumed therapy failure was associated with themselves had significantly higher rates of SDM (p = 0.002). In contrast, SDM was significantly lower (p = 0.002) if they assumed that therapy failure was due to the animal's owners. SDM was negatively associated with the perceived quality of the pet owners' self-information (p < 0.001) and if skepticism was perceived as the reason for seeking the self-information (p = 0.001). Veterinarians who advised against self-information (p = 0.006) and those who assumed that self-information of animal owners goes along with uncertainty (p = 0.001) had low SDM values (p = 0.006). Asking the animal owner for self-information (p = 0.001), and recommendations of good information sources (p = 0.022) were positively associated with SDM. Looking at the influence of age and gender on the application of SDM, older people and males rated higher. However, the evaluation of the latent factor SDM was based on the self-estimation of the participants. Assuming that younger women were less self-confident, we cannot exclude that young female participants self-evaluated their SDM skills lower than older male participants, although both groups would objectively have the same SDM level. Practitioners who have a positive attitude toward animal owners, who enjoy contact with animal owners and welcome their interest in further (self-)information, show empathic behavior, and have a positive attitude toward SDM are more likely to have better veterinarian-animal owner-relationships.
... A similar definition can be applied to pet health information. Regarding online pet health information-seeking behaviour, studies pertaining to pet owners' use of the internet for pet health information suggest that pet owners often turn to the internet, including social media, for such information (Kogan et al., 2008;Kogan et al., 2018;Kogan et al., 2010;Nettifee et al., 2017;Westermann-Cicio, 2002). As with human health websites, information on pet animal health websites has been found to vary by source, quality, completeness and therefore lack reliability and are potentially misleading (Hofmeister et al., 2008;Jehn et al., 2003;Taggart et al., 2010;Westermann-Cicio, 2002). ...
Background
Facebook is a frequently used social media platform and is often used for human health information, yet little research has been conducted on how pet owners use Facebook pet groups to obtain and share pet health information.
Method
This study was designed to assess how pet owners use dog and cat Facebook groups to provide and receive pet health advice and their perception of these groups' trustworthiness. Two comparable questionnaires (dog and cat owners) were developed and distributed through an online survey platform.
Results
Results suggest that Facebook groups are a common source of pet health information, with 56.2% of dog owners and 51.8% of cat owners reporting receiving health information through Facebook groups. Similar numbers report giving health information through Facebook groups: 55.0% of dog owners and 57.9% of cat owners. Dog health information most commonly exchanged related to dermatology, gastroenterology and orthopaedics and the most common cat health information focused on gastroenterology, renal and urinary-related issues. While the majority of Facebook users report feeling that Facebook groups are not a trustworthy source of pet health information, a substantial minority of users do appear to be influenced by these groups.
Conclusion
Approximately 50% of cat and dog owning respondents either give or receive pet health advice through Facebook groups. These results suggest that many owners deem Facebook groups as useful, but not entirely trustworthy, sources of information.
... Although information on the internet may not always be complete or accurate, 21 pet owners have expressed that the use of the internet as a source of pet health information helped support their relationship with their veterinarian by helping pet owners understand their pet's health issues, by enabling pet owners to communicate better with their veterinarian, and positioning them to ask new questions related to their pet's health. 20 Maintaining an open dialogue with clients about their use of the Internet for pet health information may enhance veterinarianclient communication and relationships. ...
Background: Blood tests play a vital role in veterinary medicine, as they enable veterinarians to make decisions about their patients’ medical care and provide opportunities to engage clients in veterinary care. The objective of this study was to explore perspectives of veterinary clients and veterinarians on current reporting practices for blood tests ordered in companion animal practice. The type of information communicated and client information seeking behaviours were examined.
Methods: Two online surveys were distributed using snowball sampling: one targeting veterinary clients and one targeting veterinarians.
Results: In total, 529 veterinary client and 416 veterinarian surveys were included in analyses. Significant differences were found between what blood test information veterinarian respondents felt they provided clients and what client respondents perceived they received with regard to their pet's blood tests. Almost 60% of clients somewhat or strongly agreed that they search the Internet if they do not understand why a test was ordered or what the results mean. Half of clients reported that they never receive a written report of their pet's blood work, 81% of whom were interested in receiving a copy.
Conclusion: Results of this research demonstrate opportunities to improve veterinarians’ and clients’ communication about blood tests.
... Hofmeister et al. (2008) noted pet owners ranked the Internet as their third most commonly accessed pet health information resource, behind general practice and specialist veterinarians. More recently, Kogan et al. (2018) reported the Internet as being the most frequently cited source of pet health information (78.6%), with veterinarians being a close second (77.2%) from a survey of 571 pet owners in the United Kingdom. ...
Objective: To explore pet owners’ online search experiences for pet health information and the perceived effects on their interactions and relationships with veterinarians.
Background: Few studies have examined pet owners’ online searches for pet health information; even less is known about how these search experiences may impact pet owners’ interactions and relationships with veterinarians, including any effects on bond-centered care.
Methods: Qualitative study consisting of five focus groups conducted with 26 pet owners in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada, between June to September 2016. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. QSR NVivo 11® was used to facilitate organisation of focus group data for thematic analysis.
Results: Participating pet owners frequently referred to their relationships with veterinarians when discussing experiences searching online for pet health information. Owners reported choosing either to disclose or withhold declaring their online searches to veterinarians, depending on whether participants perceived a beneficial or detrimental impact on a “good” professional relationship with their veterinarian. Perceptions of veterinarians' reactions towards declaration of online searches were mixed, and influenced pet owners’ views of the existing relationship.
Conclusion: Pet owners viewed their veterinarians as their most trusted source of pet health information, but many owners also wanted supplemental information from online searches. Owners preferred veterinarians refer them to online pet health resources, ideally those affiliated with the veterinary profession. Searching for pet health information online does not displace veterinarians’ guidance. Rather, the veterinarian-owner relationship was perceived to be strengthened when online searches were openly discussed with veterinarians.
Implications: Findings offer insight into pet owners’ expectations of veterinarians within the context of online pet health information, providing ideas for veterinarians to strengthen bonds with owners such as; showing support of owners’ online pet health information searching by recommending resources and considerations about communicating professional opinions to owners regarding online information.
... The survey was distributed via social media, and this might have attracted owners who were specifically interested in vaccination. However, a UK study showed that 78.6% of all pet owners use the internet as a source of information on health issues, especially social media and online forums [70]. A limitation of the statistical model was that post-selection inference is invalid and reference category selection can affect the results; classification into 'positive' or 'negative' depends directly on the choice of the reference category. ...
Background
Vaccination is the most important preventive measure for protection against infectious diseases in humans and companion animals. Nevertheless, scepticism about the safety and importance of vaccines is increasing in human and in veterinary medicine. Although owner attitudes towards vaccination have been investigated in cats, there are no similar studies in dogs. The goals of this study were therefore to investigate the vaccination status of dogs in Germany, to determine owner compliance with vaccination and to identify factors that play a role in owners’ decisions to have their dogs vaccinated.
Methods
Data were collected from August 2018 to February 2019 using an online survey targeting dog owners in Germany. A total of 3,881 questionnaires were evaluated, and factors associated with the vaccination status of dogs were determined by a linear logistic regression model using Akaike information criterion. Cohen's kappa statistic was used to evaluate agreement between questionnaire and 340 vaccination passports submitted voluntarily by owners.
Results
A total of 46.8% (n = 1,818/3,881) of dogs were vaccinated with core vaccines according to current guidelines with the lowest vaccination rate for leptospirosis (50.1%; n = 1,941/3,874). Dog’s age (16 weeks to 15 months) (odds ratio (OR): 3.08; 95% CI: 2.05–4.68), type (working dog) (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.22–3.53) and travelling abroad within previous 36 months (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.12–2.96) had the strongest ‘positive’ association with the vaccination status. Recommendation from a veterinarian not to vaccinate against leptospirosis had the strongest ‘negative’ association (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04–0.18).
Conclusion
The study revealed a need for improvement in vaccination compliance because of inadequate vaccination coverage, especially for leptospirosis, in dogs. Factors influencing owner compliance were numerous. Vaccination recommendations made by the veterinarian had a strong association with the vaccination status and should be used to increase canine vaccination rates.
We describe two cases of designer breed dogs presented for behavioural issues to the Animal Behavioural Clinic of Utrecht University. A 1.5‐year‐old, entire cockapoo male was presented for aggression towards people, hyperactivity and separation‐related behaviour. A 1‐year‐old entire labradoodle male was presented for aggression while walking the dog, aggression towards owners and ‘overarousal’ (generally high alertness and frequent state of arousal). Both dogs have a medical history that started at a young age and included gastrointestinal issues, for one dog serious repetitive otitis complaints and the other repetitive orthopaedic complaints. While medical and behavioural therapy was partly successful with the labradoodle, the cockapoo was euthanased due to recurring otitis and severe fearful behaviour. The prognosis and treatment outcome of these cases highlights how breeding with a focus on both health and behavioural soundness is crucial to animal welfare and dog owner‐contentedness.
YouTube is the third most popular app in the world and continues to grow each year while it reaches over 2 billion users a month. A variety of veterinary topics are addressed on YouTube but to date there have been no studies analysing misinformation of various canine cancer topics on YouTube or social media. This study described the characteristics of 99 unique videos and used the validated DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to characterize their usefulness. The overall median DISCERN quality score was 3 (out of 5), the median PEMAT understandability score was 72%, and 61% of videos contained little to no misinformation. 53% of videos were created by veterinarians and this subset had significantly higher PEMAT understandability and DISCERN quality scores compared with client-created content (p = .0228 and p ≤ .0001, respectively). Videos with little to no misinformation had statistically significant higher DISCERN quality scores (3 vs. 2, p = .0001). There was no statistical significance between misinformation levels and video length, PEMAT understandability, thumbs up/view, or views/mo. These data reveal similar rates of misinformation in videos on canine cancer compared to that reported for various human cancer topics. This study highlights the need for veterinarians to guide clients to more reliable and understandable information regarding their pet's health.
Background
Canine enrichment feeding (CEF) is recommended by canine professionals, yet research into its use by dog owners is absent. This study is the first to investigate who uses CEF and the perceived benefits and barriers.
Methods
A cross‐sectional survey advertised in July and August 2021 received 1750 usable responses about owner and dog demographics, feeding methods used, canine quality of life and behaviour (Mini‐Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire [C‐BARQ]).
Results
Kongs, chews and activity toys were the most popular forms of CEF. CEF was most often used for a treat, delivering meals and keeping dogs busy. Owners not using CEF were more likely to be male and older. Dogs not fed using CEF were more likely to be older, of working type and have lower exercise needs. Furthermore, they were less likely to show meal interest, dog‐directed fear or training difficulties. A common perceived benefit was mental stimulation; however, lack of time was commonly perceived to be a barrier. Certain feeding methods were associated with perceptions of reduced hunger and begging.
Limitations
The survey methodology means there is a risk of selection bias and conclusions cannot be drawn about causation.
Conclusion
CEF was perceived by most owners to benefit behavioural problems and reduce food seeking. Further research using experimental research designs is required to establish causality.
Recognising the importance of information in understanding and living with companion animals, this paper investigates cat and dog guardians’ opinions on how they learn new things and update themselves. It identifies a range of information, practices, and contexts within their everyday life. An anonymous online survey consisting of close-ended and open-ended questions was distributed to cat and dog guardians in New Zealand between October and December 2021. Response frequencies and descriptive statistics of quantitative data were generated. The qualitative data were open-coded with an information experience lens to identify the categories of information forms and practices. Quantitative data indicate personal experiences and memories of guardians (75%), and casual conversations with other guardians (73%) as the most common resources for learning, after experts (e.g. veterinarians) (93%). Qualitative data analysis categorized these as two main themes of external and internal forms of information. External information consisted of social information in verbal and nonverbal communication with other humans and animals, recorded information in digital and physical mediums, and embedded information held in artifacts and animals’ body. Internal information related to guardians’ memory and personal knowledge (cognitive information), values and emotions (affective information), and bodily feelings and subjective interpretation of their senses (embodied information). The informational lifeworld of the participants was made of their external interactions and internal values, which appears as interwoven concepts in their daily lives with dogs and cats.
Purpose
This paper introduces more-than-human perspective in information behaviour and information experience studies. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understandings of the concept of multispecies families by exploring their significant dimensions related to information phenomena involving multiple contexts, situations, spaces, actors, species, and activities.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on previous research in human information behaviour and human-animal studies, our ideas around information experience of multispecies families are developed conceptually. The paper builds both on previous empirical findings about human information behaviour and the new domain of information experience.
Findings
The paper proposes a holistic approach both to information phenomena in everyday living with companion animals including embodied, affective, cognitive, social, digital, and objectual information that shapes pet care and management practices, and to the context of study, including work, domestic, and leisure aspects of multispecies family.
Originality/value
This study broadens our understanding of information phenomena in multispecies families, and so contributes to the field of information experience. It also provides insights for animal welfare scientists to help them understand the information behaviour of humans who are responsible for keeping and caring for animals.
This study investigates how the Theory of Motivated Information Management influences adolescents' sexual information-seeking behaviour and their satisfaction with the information they find. A cross-sectional investigation that purposively selected and surveyed 128 adolescents in the Matara District of Sri Lanka using a semi-structured questionnaire was designed. The variables such as high-risk sexual behaviour, having a partner or not, sexual curiosity, computer self-rated proficiency, sex of the adolescents, self-rated English proficiency, Uncertainty Discrepancy anxiety and self-efficacy were used to inquire about the contributing effects on adolescents' sexual health information seeking behaviour. The findings reveal that the most important sexual health information for adolescents is the information related to “high-risk sexual behaviour” and “sexual curiosity”. Boys are more likely to engage with sexual health information in a positive way than girls. The results further validate the TMIM framework. The orientation of associations between model variables has been consistent with past studies, particularly the negative relationship between anxiety and efficacy. Adolescents expressed difficulties in obtaining health information, including difficulty determining the quality of information and the lack of appropriate health information, highlighting the need for effective measures in this area. To overcome these barriers, the Ministries of Health and Education, the National Library, the Academic Library System and particularly medical/health libraries in universities, and the National Youth Services Council should plan easily accessible, outcome measurable, and appropriate opportunities and training through their official centres and institutions.
The Internet is a commonly used resource for accessing health information. Despite the Internet’s popularity in the human health field, little is known about the Internet’s impact on veterinarians, their clients, and the veterinarian–client relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of veterinarians from the United Kingdom of clients’ use of the Internet and the perceived impact on pet health and the veterinarian–client relationship. A survey was distributed between January 4 and March 3, 2017, via an online link. In total, 100 veterinarians completed the survey. This study found that most UK veterinarians feel their clients access the Internet to find pet health information, yet often do not understand what they read online. Importantly, 40% of veterinarians stated that the Internet has a negative impact on companion animal health. This small-scale study found mixed opinions regarding veterinarians’ perceptions of their clients’ use of the Internet and the potential impact it has on the client–veterinarian relationship. Research on clients’ actual use of the Internet and their associated perceptions is a next logical step.
Access to the most up-to-date evidence is an important cornerstone for veterinarians attempting to practice in an evidence-based manner; therefore, an understanding of what and how information is accessed is vital. The aim of this study was to identify what resources the UK veterinary profession access and regard as most useful. Based on questionnaires received from veterinarians, the Veterinary Times was nominated as most often read journal or magazine by respondents (n=3572, 79 per cent). In Practice (n=3224, 82 per cent) and the Veterinary Record (n=165, 34 per cent) were seen as most useful by clinicians, and non-clinicians, respectively. Google was the most often nominated electronic resource by all respondents (n=3076, 71 per cent), with Google (n=459, 23 per cent) and PubMed (n=60, 17 per cent) seen as most useful by clinicians and non-clinicians, respectively. The abstract and conclusion sections were the most read parts of scientific manuscripts nominated by all respondents. When looking for assistance with difficult cases, colleagues were the common information choice for clinicians. Different sections of the veterinary profession access information, and deem resources useful, in different ways. Access to good quality evidence is important for the practice of evidence-based veterinary medicine, and therefore, researchers should think about disseminating their findings in a targeted way for optimal use by the profession.
British Veterinary Association.
Background: Online health information seeking is an activity that needs to be explored in Scotland. While there are a growing number of studies that adopt a qualitative approach to this issue and attempt to understand the behaviors associated with online health information seeking, previous studies focusing on quantifying the prevalence and pattern of online health seeking in the United Kingdom have been based on Internet users in general.
Objective: This exploratory study sought to describe the prevalence of online health information seeking in a rural area of Scotland based on primary data from a patient population.
Methods: A survey design was employed utilizing self-completed questionnaires, based on the Pew Internet and American Life Project; questionnaires were distributed among adult patients in 10 primary care centers in a rural community in Scotland.
Results: A convenience sample of 571 (0.10% of the total population in Grampian, N=581,198) patients completed the questionnaire. A total of 68.4% (379/554) of patients had previously used the Internet to acquire health information. A total of 25.4% (136/536) of patients consulted the Internet for health information regarding their current appointment on the day surveyed; 34.6% (47/136) of these patients were influenced to attend their appointment as a result of that online health information. A total of 43.2% (207/479) of patients stated the health information helped improve their health and 67.1% (290/432) indicated that they had learned something new. A total of 34.0% (146/430) of patients talked to a health professional about the information they had found and 90.0% (376/418) reported that the information was useful. In total, 70.4% (145/206) of patients were concerned about obtaining health information online from reliable sources. A total of 67.1% (139/207) of patients were concerned that a health site may sell their personal information, yet only 6.7% (36/535) checked the privacy policy of the site visited. However, 27.9% (55/197) of patients were not concerned about their employer finding out what health sites they visited, whereas 37.5% (78/208) were concerned that others would find out.
Conclusions: The results suggest that online health information-seeking behavior influences offline health-related behavior among the population surveyed. Patient attitudes to online health information seeking were focused on issues relating to trust, reliability, privacy, and confidentiality. This study provides support for the growing phenomenon of an empowered, computer-literate, health information consumer, and the impact of this phenomenon must be considered in the context of the patient-health professional dynamic. The unpredictable nature of human thought and action in relation to this field of study requires an ongoing program of ethnographic research, both physical and virtual, within a Health Web Science framework. This study has provided a baseline of the prevalence of online health information seeking in the Grampian region of Scotland.
Survey response rates have been declining over the past decade. The more widespread use of the Internet and Web-based technologies among potential health survey participants suggests that Web-based questionnaires may be an alternative to paper questionnaires in future epidemiological studies.
To compare response rates in a population of parents by using 4 different modes of data collection for a questionnaire survey of which 1 involved a nonmonetary incentive.
A random sample of 3148 parents of Danish children aged 2-17 years were invited to participate in the Danish part of the NordChild 2011 survey on their children's health and welfare. NordChild was conducted in 1984 and 1996 in collaboration with Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden using mailed paper questionnaires only. In 2011, all countries used conventional paper versions only except Denmark where the parents were randomized into 4 groups: (1) 789 received a paper questionnaire only (paper), (2) 786 received the paper questionnaire and a log-in code to the Web-based questionnaire (paper/Web), (3) 787 received a log-in code to the Web-based questionnaire (Web), and (4) 786 received log-in details to the Web-based questionnaire and were given an incentive consisting of a chance to win a tablet computer (Web/tablet). In connection with the first reminder, the nonresponders in the paper, paper/Web, and Web groups were also present with the opportunity to win a tablet computer as a means of motivation. Descriptive analysis was performed using chi-square tests. Odds ratios were used to estimate differences in response rates between the 4 modes.
In 2011, 1704 of 3148 (54.13%) respondents answered the Danish questionnaire. The highest response rate was with the paper mode (n=443, 56.2%). The other groups had similar response rates: paper/Web (n=422, 53.7%), Web (n=420, 53.4%), and Web/tablet (n=419, 53.3%) modes. Compared to the paper mode, the odds for response rate in the paper/Web decreased by 9% (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.74-1.10) and by 11% (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.73-1.09) in the Web and Web/tablet modes. The total number of responders for NordChild declined from 10,291 of 15,339 (67.09%) in 1984 and 10,667 of 15,254 (69.93%) in 1996 to 7805 of 15,945 (48.95%) in 2011 with similar declines in all 5 Nordic countries.
Web-based questionnaires could replace traditional paper questionnaires with minor effects on response rates and lower costs. The increasing effect on the response rate on participants replying for a nonmonetary incentive could only be estimated within the 2 Web-based questionnaire modes before the first reminder. Alternative platforms to reach higher participation rates in population surveys should reflect the development of electronic devices and the ways in which the population primarily accesses the Internet.
Examines the way the general public exploits the Internet for health information, the motives behind usage, attitudes towards issues such as quality concerns, and the extent to which Internet interventions affect the doctor-patient relationship. Although a questionnaire survey was used (posted on the NHS Direct Web site), the questions asked were open, and invited free-text “qualitative” answers. This method was a success in terms of the amount and richness of the data accrued. Results suggested that the Internet is exploited in a wide variety of ways, by users acting in a number of roles – patient, intermediary or professional. Some health professionals are now so comfortable with the Internet that they encourage Internet usage by their patients. Lay users demonstrated a high level of understanding of issues raised, and showed a (healthy?) scepticism regarding the information provided. Many users felt that their consultations with doctors had been enriched by Internet-acquired information.
In the UK, both anecdotal and research evidence points to ever greater and more sophisticated use of the Web to provide health information and advice. The study reported here adds to this research with an online survey of Internet users’ reported use of the Web to access information about health and their opinions about the advice that can be obtained there. Over a period of three weeks more than 1,300 people responded to an online questionnaire produced by The British Life and Internet Project; 81 per cent or 997 of the respondents were British. The prime purpose of the questionnaire was to obtain information on the characteristics of the users of health information Web sites, to obtain feedback regarding for what they used online health sites and what were the perceived outcomes associated with using online health information.
Background
Epidemiological research often requires collection of data from a representative sample of the community or recruitment of specific groups through broad community approaches. The population coverage of traditional survey methods such as mail-outs to residential addresses, and telephone contact via public directories or random-digit-dialing is declining and survey response rates are falling. There is a need to explore new sampling frames and consider multiple response modes including those offered by changes in telecommunications and internet technology.
Methods
We evaluated response rates and cost-effectiveness for three modes of survey administration (postal invitation/postal survey, postal invitation/internet survey and postal invitation/telephone survey) and two styles of contact approach (personalised and generic) in a community survey of greywater use. Potential respondents were contacted only once, with no follow up of non-responders.
Results
The telephone survey produced the highest adjusted response rate (30.2%), followed by the personalised postal survey (10.5%), generic postal survey (7.5%) and then the internet survey (4.7% for the personalised approach and 2.2% for the generic approach). There were some differences in household characteristics and greywater use rates between respondents to different survey modes, and between respondents to personalised and generic approaches. These may be attributable to the differing levels of motivations needed for a response, and varying levels of interest in the survey topic among greywater users and non-users. The generic postal survey had the lowest costs per valid survey received (Australian 24.75).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that postal surveys currently remain the most economic option for population-based studies, with similar costs for personalised and generic approaches. Internet surveys may be effective for specialised groups where email lists are available for initial contact, but barriers other than household internet access still exist for community-based surveys. Given the increasing recruitment challenges facing community-based studies, there is an imperative to gather contemporary comparative data on different survey modes and recruitment approaches in order to determine their strengths, limitations and costs. Researchers also need to document and report on the potential biases in the target and respondent populations and how this may affect the data collected.
Introduction: The current study assesses the online search behavior of pet owners for pet health information and the perception of clients’ internet use by their veterinarians.Materials and methods: A random sample of veterinary clinics was selected from two metropolitan US areas. Results and Conclusions: The majority of clients reported using the internet for pet health information with positive results. Veterinarians expressed concern over clients’ ability to understand medical information and the potential negative impact of misleading information. Recommendations pertaining to the growing presence of the internet and its impact to the field of veterinary medicine are offered.
The context in which patients consume health information has changed dramatically with diffusion of the Internet, advances in telemedicine, and changes in media health coverage. The objective of this study was to provide nationally representative estimates for health-related uses of the Internet, level of trust in health information sources, and preferences for cancer information sources.
Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey were used. A total of 6369 persons 18 years or older were studied. The main outcome measures were online health activities, levels of trust, and source preference.
Analyses indicated that 63.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 61.7%-64.3%) of the US adult population in 2003 reported ever going online, with 63.7% (95% CI, 61.7%-65.8%) of the online population having looked for health information for themselves or others at least once in the previous 12 months. Despite newly available communication channels, physicians remained the most highly trusted information source to patients, with 62.4% (95% CI, 60.8%-64.0%) of adults expressing a lot of trust in their physicians. When asked where they preferred going for specific health information, 49.5% (95% CI, 48.1%-50.8%) reported wanting to go to their physicians first. When asked where they actually went, 48.6% (95% CI, 46.1%-51.0%) reported going online first, with only 10.9% (95% CI, 9.5%-12.3%) going to their physicians first.
The Health Information National Trends Survey data portray a tectonic shift in the ways in which patients consume health and medical information, with more patients looking for information online before talking with their physicians.
Pet owners commonly look online for information on their pet’s health, and may access poor-quality information.
It may be beneficial therefore for veterinary practices to provide ‘information prescriptions’ to steer clients
towards those online information sources that provide better-quality information.
The aim was to explore how patients with bipolar (N=59) or psychotic disorder (N=41) seek medical information on Internet (e-patient). Two-thirds (64%) of inpatients interviewed using a standardized semi-structured questionnaire were e-patients. Compared to non e-patients, they were younger and had a higher educational level. The proportion of e-patients was comparable among persons with schizophrenia (61%) and with bipolar disorder (66%). Very few patients were familiar with quality codes for Internet medical information. Patients should be informed about how to recognize reliable information on the Internet and web sites should cater for their cognitive deficits.
The study assesses the impact on client behavior and attitudes toward receiving an information prescription as part of a veterinary office visit.
A random sample of veterinary clinics from a Western US metropolitan area was asked to distribute an information prescription in addition to their customary veterinary services. All clients, regardless of the reason for their visit, were presented with an information prescription: a handout that included the uniform resource locator (URL) to a general veterinary medicine website and several tips to help their clients make more informed choices about where to seek pet health information online.
Nearly 40% of clients who reported that they remembered receiving the information prescription accessed the website at least once. Of the clients who reported accessing the suggested website, 86.3% reported finding it "very helpful" or "somewhat helpful." Nearly all the clients (87.9%) reported feeling the information on the site helped them make better decisions for their pets. Most clients reported that it helped them talk to their veterinarians (89.9%) and added to the information they received during their veterinary visits (83.5%).
Clients appreciate and utilize veterinary prescriptions, suggesting that this is a tool that both veterinarians and librarians can use to improve animal health and client relations.
The value placed on reliable Internet information by veterinary clients suggests several opportunities for librarians to become more proactive in partnering with veterinarians to facilitate the education of pet owners.
Equine welfare charities have identified the education of (primarily novice) horse owners as the principal route to tackling the majority of equine welfare problems in the United Kingdom. To reach and educate owners effectively, we must understand where they seek advice about issues that arise when owning or caring for a horse. Questions regarding information-seeking behavior were included in an Internet survey completed by a convenience sample of 1,326 UK leisure horse owners, recruited online and through electronic and postal mail shots to equestrian clubs and establishments. The questions asked where the owners sought advice regarding 4 different subject areas: horse behavior, health, stable care, and training. Respondents were asked to select their main sources of information from a list of 7—books/magazines, vet/farrier, instructor, Internet/forums, friends/family, tack shops, and other. Although books/magazines were the most frequently used information source across all 4 subject areas overall, there were differences between the 4 subject areas in the most commonly selected sources (χ2 = 992, P < 0.001) and the number of sources consulted (χ2 = 254, P < 0.001). Vets/farriers were the source consulted most frequently for health advice (Z = −13.32, P < 0.001), instructors for training advice (Z = −3.93, P < 0.001), and books/magazines for advice regarding both behavior (Z = −9.49, P < 0.001) and stable care (Z = −8.26, P < 0.001). Despite the survey mode and that many participants were recruited online, Internet/forums were only the third to the fifth most used of the 7 information sources, depending on the subject area. Logistic regression analyses identified significant associations between owner demographics (age, self-rated skill level, and self-reported rider type) and the likelihood of selecting a particular source for advice regarding a specific subject area. The findings have important implications for those trying to reach the horse-owning population to disseminate research findings and ultimately improve the welfare of their horses.
To assess the quality of information available on the Internet pertaining to canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease.
Survey Study.
Three search phrases were entered separately into 5 search engines and the 1st page of websites from each search was analyzed. Unique websites were evaluated by 3 Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons using standardized scales for content and information value score (IVS). Websites were further categorized by veterinary or non-veterinary authorship. The readability of each website was scored using a proven literacy scale (Flesch-Kinkaid system).
Fifty-four unique websites were evaluated. Websites located using anatomically correct veterinary terminology had significantly (P<.05) higher ratings for content and IVS compared with those found using lay terminology. Websites authored by veterinarians also had significantly (P<.05) higher IVS compared with those authored by non-veterinarians. Websites found using anatomically correct veterinary terminology, and those authored by veterinarians, had significantly (P<.05) lower readability scores, requiring a higher literacy level for comprehension.
Information available on the Internet with respect to canine CCL disease is of highly variable quality. Use of anatomically correct veterinary terminology when conducting an Internet search detects sites with higher quality information; however, a higher literacy level is required to understand the material. Similarly, websites authored by veterinarians are more likely to present higher quality information, but require a more advanced literacy level for comprehension.
CCL disease information on the Internet is of variable quality and can be misleading.
To determine the validity of the information on the World Wide Web concerning veterinary anesthesia in dogs and to determine the methods dog owners use to obtain that information.
Web-based search and client survey.
73 Web sites and 92 clients.
Web sites were scored on a 5-point scale for completeness and accuracy of information about veterinary anesthesia by 3 board-certified anesthesiologists. A search for anesthetic information regarding 49 specific breeds of dogs was also performed. A survey was distributed to the clients who visited the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital during a 4-month period to solicit data about sources used by clients to obtain veterinary medical information and the manner in which information obtained from Web sites was used.
The general search identified 73 Web sites that included information on veterinary anesthesia; these sites received a mean score of 3.4 for accuracy and 2.5 for completeness. Of 178 Web sites identified through the breed-specific search, 57 (32%) indicated that a particular breed was sensitive to anesthesia. Of 83 usable, completed surveys, 72 (87%) indicated the client used the Web for veterinary medical information. Fifteen clients (18%) indicated they believed their animal was sensitive to anesthesia because of its breed.
Information available on the internet regarding anesthesia in dogs is generally not complete and may be misleading with respect to risks to specific breeds. Consequently, veterinarians should appropriately educate clients regarding anesthetic risk to their particular dog.
To evaluate the quality of information regarding osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs currently available on the World Wide Web.
Survey study.
5 search engines were searched with the keywords "dog," "degenerative joint disease," "canine," and "osteoarthritis," and the first 50 sites listed by each search engine were analyzed. Unique Web site addresses were distributed to 3 diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, who provided a standardized evaluation of each site.
30 unique Web sites were evaluated. Twenty (66%) provided information consistent with conventional knowledge as outlined in textbooks and peer-reviewed literature, 8 (27%) provided experimental or anecdotal information in addition to conventional knowledge, and 2 (7%) provided misleading information. Mean scores for overall usefulness of the information provided in regard to clinical features of and treatment for OA were 1.3 and 1.5, respectively (1 = information of minimal use; 5 = very useful information). Twenty-three (77%) sites encouraged pet owners to seek the advice of a veterinarian. Twenty-three (77%) sites were given overall quality scores < 2, and 7 (23%) were given scores between 2 and 3 (1 = site was counterproductive; 5 = site was very valuable).
Results suggest that the quality of information currently available on the Web that addresses OA in dogs is questionable. Although most of the sites conveyed some conventional information with reasonable accuracy, the information was incomplete, of minimal use, and often considered counterproductive.