Willingness to consult a veterinarian on physician's advice for zoonotic diseases: a formal role for veterinarians in medicine

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Speare, Rick;Mendez, Diana;Judd, Jenni;Reid, Simon;Tzipori, Saul;Massey, Peter D.
Abstract

Physicians appear to find zoonotic diseases a challenge and consider that this topic belongs more to the veterinary profession. However, veterinarians have no formal role in clinical medicine. Data were collected as part of the Queensland Social Survey 2014 to determine the willingness of the public, if diagnosed with a zoonotic disease, to consult a veterinarian on the advice of a physician. Self-reported willingness to consult with a veterinarian at the respondent's own expense was 79.8% (95% CI: 81.96%-77.46%) (976/1223). If the cost was funded by Medicare, the Australian public health insurance scheme, 90.7% (95% CI: 92.18%-88.92%) (1109/1223) would be willing to consult a veterinarian. Therefore, a large majority of Australian residents would be willing to consult with a veterinarian on the advice of their physician if they had a zoonotic disease. Does this indicate a possible new role for veterinarians under Clinical One Health?

Journal

PLoS ONE

Publication Name

PLoS ONE

Volume

10

ISBN/ISSN

1932-6203

Edition

N/A

Issue

8

Pages Count

8

Location

N/A

Publisher

Public Library of Science

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0131406