Owner behaviour change may be the most promising avenue to improve dog welfare. As such, understanding potential drivers of owner behaviour is critical to developing effective intervention programs. Here we examine in depth the concept of "duty of care" as a motivator of owner behaviour. Using a mixed methods approach, this study aimed to better understand the potential dimensions of duty of care, their interrelationships, and develop psychometrically valid tools to measure them in companion dog owners. This was achieved through a multi-stage process including a critical literature review, qualitative interviews (n = 13), and an online survey (n = 538). Using Schwartz's Norm Activation Model as a framework, we have developed a 30 item scale with 5 subscales; duty beliefs, problem awareness, awareness of impact, efficacy, and ascription of responsibility. These unique subscales demonstrate good internal consistency and construct validity. In addition to developing a measurement tool, this process has provided important insights into the nature of duty of care in companion dog owners, creating several avenues for future inquiry. One such finding was that many dog welfare problems may not be the result of lacking duty beliefs, but rather weaknesses in other "activation" factors such as problem awareness or ascription of responsibility. Further work is now required to understand the predictive validity of the scale and the relative influence of its different dimensions on owner behaviour and dog welfare outcomes. This will facilitate the identification of appropriate targets for intervention programs aimed at improving owner behaviour and consequently, dog welfare.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10191305 | PMC |
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285278 | PLOS |
Objective: This study investigated whether the behavior profiles of cats with inflammatory gastrointestinal or skin diseases differ from those of healthy cats.
Methods: We identified adult cats within the patient database at the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary hospital that had been diagnosed with inflammatory gastrointestinal (n = 22) or skin disorders (17) and a control group of healthy cats (58). We collected data via owner completion of the Feline Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire from March to May 2023 and conducted an observational study comparing the Feline Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire scores between groups.
J Trauma Nurs
January 2025
Author Affiliations: Castner Incorporated, Grand Island, NY (Dr Castner); Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York (Dr Castner); Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY (Ms Zazzera); and Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, PA (Dr Burchill).
Background: Trauma population health indicators are worsening in the United States. Nurses working in trauma care settings require specialized training for patient care. Little is known about national enumeration of nurses who hold skill-based trauma certificates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
Inflammatory processes have been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. In human studies, inflammation has been shown to act as a critical disease modifier, promoting susceptibility to depression and modulating specific endophenotypes of depression. However, there is scant documentation of how inflammatory processes are associated with neural activity in patients with depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAgeing Res Rev
January 2025
i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University (UEMC), Valladolid 47012, Spain; Physical Activity and Health Research Group (PaHerg), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid 28041, Spain. Electronic address:
Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota (GM) plays a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and progression. This narrative review explores the complex interplay between GM, the immune system, and the central nervous system in AD. We discuss mechanisms through which GM dysbiosis can compromise intestinal barrier integrity, enabling pro-inflammatory molecules and metabolites to enter systemic circulation and the brain, potentially contributing to AD hallmarks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Vet Intern Med
January 2025
School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Background: Most veterinary literature examining medication compliance has described the phenomenon in dogs. The evidence available regarding factors affecting cat owner medication compliance is limited.
Objectives: Identify and describe factors associated with cat owners' noncompliance with veterinary recommendations for pet medications, as well as client-reported barriers and aids to administering medications prescribed by primary care veterinarians.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!