scholarly journals Contrasting practices and opinions of UK-based veterinary surgeons around neutering cats at four months old

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (8) ◽  
pp. 317-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni McDonald ◽  
Jane Clements

BackgroundMany cats in the UK are not neutered before reaching potential breeding age. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the prevalence of veterinarians’ behaviours around neutering cats at four months of age and to identify any needs of the veterinary profession on this.MethodsA sample of 483 veterinarians that completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses.ResultsAlmost 70 per cent of veterinarians indicated they were comfortable carrying out neutering on cats of four months of age, and approximately half of veterinarians indicated they would recommend neutering client-owned cats at four months of age if practice policy permitted. There was no association found between these practices and geographic risk factors. Instead, neutering at four months was associated with the gender of the veterinarian, their practice policy and whether they routinely neuter unowned cats. Veterinarians have contrasting beliefs on similar themes, depending on whether they neuter kittens at four months or not, including differing opinions on general anaesthetic, surgery risks, owner compliance and their perceptions of neutering practices within the wider profession.ConclusionFamiliarity and experience with the procedure, alongside perceived norms, are central to beliefs. We also highlight informational and learning barriers.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Thiel ◽  
S Wild ◽  
R Anderson ◽  
S Bhattacharya ◽  
J Greaves

Abstract Study question What is the prevalence of female infertility among UK military personnel and does it differ from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and civilian populations? Summary answer Prevalence of self-reported infertility was higher in servicewomen (31.7%) and female MPS officers (36.3%) than in civilian women (24.4%). What is known already Arduous employment is associated with numerous potential occupational hazards and behaviours that may be relevant to fertility. These include physical and psychological stress, smoking, alcohol drinking and other lifestyle factors. A preliminarily report in 2016 indicated that UK servicewomen over 30 years of age were more likely to present with fertility problems compared with reported civilian infertility data for age-matched women. Few previous studies have compared infertility prevalence of servicewomen with civilians, and none have compared infertility prevalence with other occupations. Study design, size, duration A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2019 to determine prevalence of infertility. All eligible UK servicewomen (14,650) and MPS officers (8,262) aged 18–60 years were invited to participate with sisters of participants recruited as controls using a snowball technique. Data including pregnancy history, time to each pregnancy and self-reported infertility risk-factors were collected using an online questionnaire. We estimated a sample of 4898 servicewomen would give a precision of 1% around infertility prevalence estimates. Participants/materials, setting, methods The questionnaire was developed, piloted and adapted for electronic distribution. The occupational groups were invited by email to complete the questionnaire on three occasions. Prevalence of infertility was defined as the proportion of women at risk of pregnancy who had not become pregnant within 12 months. Only women with pregnancy outcomes, or fully tested for fertility (12 months or more of exposure), were included in the denominator. Main results and the role of chance Participants included 4806 (33%) women serving in the UK Armed Forces, 1237 (15%) female MPS officers and 435 (estimated 8%) non-military, non-MPS sisters (biological, half, step or adopted) of both groups. 98.4% of responses were complete. Prevalence of self-reported 12-month infertility was 31.7% (95% CI 29.9–33.5) in servicewomen, 36.3% (95% CI 33.1–39.7) in MPS officers and 24.4% (95% CI 19.6–29.8) in civilian women. Age, history of polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids, tubal and pelvic surgery, hysterectomy and a short General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12) score of > 4 (suggesting a minor psychiatric disorder) were associated with infertility and adjusted for in logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of infertility in servicewomen was 1.0 (95% CI 0.8–1.2) compared with MPS officers and 1.5 (95% CI 1.1–2.0) in both servicewomen and MPS officers compared with sisters. Limitations, reasons for caution The major limitation is the low response rate, particularly in the two control groups, potentially resulting in response bias. Prevalence of infertility could have been further over-estimated if fertile women are more likely to have left the military or MPS. There is scope for residual confounding. Wider implications of the findings: Further analyses will explore the key risk factors to identify what aspects of these occupations contribute to infertility and which may be modifiable. Future cohort studies would be helpful to extend the understanding of the influence of occupation on infertility. Trial registration number Not applicable


Author(s):  
Abdullah Nimer ◽  
Suzan Naser ◽  
Nesrin Sultan ◽  
Rawand Said Alasad ◽  
Alexander Rabadi ◽  
...  

Burnout syndrome is common among healthcare professions, including resident physicians. We aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout among resident physicians in Jordan, and a secondary aim was to evaluate the risk factors associated with the development of burnout syndrome in those residents, including gender, working hours, psychological distress, training sector, and specialty. In this cross-sectional study, 481 residents were recruited utilizing multistage stratified sampling to represent the four major health sectors in Jordan. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, where the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) was used to assess the prevalence of burnout. The prevalence, group differences, and predictors of burnout were statistically analyzed using STATA 15. Overall, 373 (77.5%) residents were found to have burnout. Factors associated with higher levels of burnout were psychological stress (β = 2.34, CI = [1.88–2.81]), longer working hours (β = 4.07, CI = [0.52–7.62], for 51–75 h a week, β = 7.27, CI = [2.86–11.69], for 76–100 h a week and β = 7.27, CI = [0.06–14.49], for >100 h a week), and obstetrics/gynecology residents (β = 9.66, CI = [3.59–15.73]). Conversely, medical sub-specialty residents, as well as private and university hospital residents, had lower burnout levels. We concluded that decreasing the workload on residents, offering psychological counseling, and promoting a safety culture for residents might help in mitigating burnout consequences.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Katie Waine ◽  
Rachel S. Dean ◽  
Chris Hudson ◽  
Jonathan Huxley ◽  
Marnie L. Brennan

Clinical audit is a quality improvement tool used to assess and improve the clinical services provided to patients. This is the first study to investigate the extent to which clinical audit is understood and utilised in farm animal veterinary practice. A cross-sectional study to collect experiences and attitudes of farm animal veterinary surgeons in the UK towards clinical audit was conducted using an online nationwide survey. The survey revealed that whilst just under three-quarters (n = 237/325; 73%) of responding veterinary surgeons had heard of clinical audit, nearly 50% (n = 148/301) had never been involved in a clinical audit of any species. The participants’ knowledge of what a clinical audit was varied substantially, with many respondents reporting not receiving training on clinical audit at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. Respondents that had participated in a clinical audit suggested that protected time away from clinical work was required for the process to be completed successfully. This novel study suggests that clinical audit is undertaken to some extent in farm animal practice and that practitioner perception is that it can bring benefits, but was felt that more resources and support were needed for it to be implemented successfully on a wider scale.


2018 ◽  
Vol 184 (5) ◽  
pp. 153-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen M Rees ◽  
David C Barrett ◽  
Henry Buller ◽  
Harriet L Mills ◽  
Kristen K Reyher

Prescription veterinary medicine (PVM) use in the UK is an area of increasing focus for the veterinary profession. While many studies measure antimicrobial use on dairy farms, none report the quantity of antimicrobials stored on farms, nor the ways in which they are stored. The majority of PVM treatments occur in the absence of the prescribing veterinarian, yet there is an identifiable knowledge gap surrounding PVM use and farmer decision making. To provide an evidence base for future work on PVM use, data were collected from 27 dairy farms in England and Wales in Autumn 2016. The number of different PVMs stored on farms ranged from 9 to 35, with antimicrobials being the most common therapeutic group stored. Injectable antimicrobials comprised the greatest weight of active ingredient found, while intramammary antimicrobials were the most frequent unit of medicine stored. Antimicrobials classed by the European Medicines Agency as critically important to human health were present on most farms, and the presence of expired medicines and medicines not licensed for use in dairy cattle was also common. The medicine resources available to farmers are likely to influence their treatment decisions; therefore, evidence of the PVM stored on farms can help inform understanding of medicine use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Mann ◽  
Carly D. McKay ◽  
Bryan C. Clift ◽  
Craig A. Williams ◽  
Alan R. Barker

Background: Distance running is one of the most popular sports around the world. The epidemiology of running-related injury (RRI) has been investigated in adults, but few studies have focused on adolescent distance runners.Objectives: (1) To provide descriptive epidemiology of RRI (risks, rates, body regions/areas, and severity) and examine the training practices (frequency, volume, and intensity) of competitive adolescent distance runners (13–18 years) in England, and (2) to describe potential risk factors of RRI.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Adolescent distance runners (n = 113) were recruited from England Athletics affiliated clubs. Participants voluntarily completed an online questionnaire between April and December 2018. At the time of completion, responses were based on the participant's previous 12-months of distance running participation. Incidence proportions (IP) and incidence rates (IR) were calculated.Results: The IP for “all RRI” was 68% (95% CI: 60–77), while the IR was 6.3/1,000 participation hours (95% CI: 5.3–7.4). The most commonly injured body areas were the knee, foot/toes, and lower leg; primarily caused by overuse. The number of training sessions per week (i.e., frequency) significantly increased with chronological age, while a large proportion of participants (58%) self-reported a high level of specialisation.Conclusions: RRI is common in competitive adolescent distance runners. These descriptive data provide guidance for the development of RRI prevention measures. However, analytical epidemiology is required to provide better insight into potential RRI risk factors in this specific population.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e026048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Owen ◽  
Thomas Hopkins ◽  
Thomas Shortland ◽  
Jeremy Dale

ObjectiveTo investigate how recent national policy-led workforce interventions are affecting intentions to remain working as a general practitioner (GP).DesignOnline questionnaire survey with qualitative and quantitative questions.Setting and participantsAll GPs (1697) in Wessex region, an area in England for which previous GP career intention data from 2014 is available.Results929 (54.7%) participated. 59.4% reported that morale had reduced over the past two years, and 48.5% said they had brought forward their plans to leave general practice. Intention to leave/retire in the next 2 years increased from 13% in the 2014 survey to 18% in October/November 2017 (p=0.02), while intention to continue working for at least the next 5 years dropped from 63.9% to 48.5% (p<0.0001). Age, length of service and lower job satisfaction were associated with intention to leave. Work intensity and amount were the most common reasons given for intention to leave sooner than previously planned; 51.0% participants reported working more hours than 2 years previously, predominantly due to increased workload.GPs suggested increased funding, more GPs, better education of the public and expanding non-clinical and support staff as interventions to improve GP retention.National initiatives that aligned with these priorities, such as funding to expand practice nursing were viewed positively, but low numbers of GPs had seen evidence of their roll-out. Conversely, national initiatives that did not align, such as video consulting, were viewed negatively.ConclusionWhile recent initiatives may be having an impact on targeted areas, most GPs are experiencing little effect. This may be contributing to further lowering of morale and bringing forward intentions to leave. More urgent action appears to be needed to stem the growing workforce crisis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarun K Mittal ◽  
Christine L Cleghorn ◽  
Janet E Cade ◽  
Suzanne Barr ◽  
Tim Grove ◽  
...  

Background A high prevalence of stress-related disorders is well known among healthcare professionals. We set out to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and compliance with national dietary and physical activity recommendations in NHS staff in the UK with comparison between clinical and non-clinical staff, and national surveys. Design A multi-centre cross-sectional study. Methods A web-based questionnaire was developed to include anonymised data on demographics, job role, cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, dietary habits, physical activity and barriers towards healthy lifestyle. This was distributed to staff in four NHS hospitals via emails. Results A total of 1158 staff completed the survey (response rate 13%) with equal distribution between the clinical and non-clinical groups. Most staff were aged 26–60 years and 79% were women. Half of the staff were either overweight or obese (51%) with no difference between the groups ( P = 0.176), but there was a lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors compared to the general population. The survey revealed a low compliance (17%) with the recommended intake of five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables, and that of moderate or vigorous physical activity (56%), with no difference between the clinical and non-clinical staff ( P = 0.6). However, more clinical staff were exceeding the alcohol recommendations ( P = 0.02). Lack of fitness facilities and managerial support, coupled with long working hours, were the main reported barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Conclusions In this survey of UK NHS staff, half were found to be overweight or obese with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors compared to the general population. There was a low compliance with the five-a-day fruit and vegetables recommendation and physical activity guidelines, with no difference between the clinical and non-clinical staff.


2011 ◽  
Vol 199 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Adelman ◽  
Martin Blanchard ◽  
Greta Rait ◽  
Gerard Leavey ◽  
Gill Livingston

BackgroundPreliminary studies in the UK, all using screening instruments of unknown cultural validity, indicate that there may be an increased prevalence of dementia in African–Caribbean people, possibly related to vascular risk factors and potentially amenable to preventative measures.AimsTo determine the prevalence of dementia in older people of African–Caribbean country of birth compared with their White UK-born counterparts.MethodA total of 218 people of African–Caribbean country of birth and 218 White UK-born people aged ⩾60 years were recruited from five general practices in North London. Those who screened positive for cognitive impairment using a culturally valid instrument were offered a standardised diagnostic interview. Two independent assessors diagnosed dementia according to standard operationalised criteria.ResultsAfrican–Caribbean participants were 2 years younger, and those with dementia nearly 8 years younger than their White counterparts. The prevalence of dementia was significantly higher in the African–Caribbean (9.6%) than the White group (6.9%) after adjustment for the confounders age and socioeconomic status (odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95%CI 1.3–7.3, P = 0.012).ConclusionsThere is an increased prevalence of dementia in older people of African–Caribbean country of birth in the UK and at younger ages than in the indigenous White population. These findings have implications for service provision and preventive interventions. Further research is needed to explore the role of vascular risk factors and social adversity in the excess of dementia in this population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (41) ◽  
pp. 1911
Author(s):  
Amine Selim de Salles Gonçalves Melado ◽  
Filipe Alvarenga Caetano Vitorino ◽  
Ana Rosa Murad Szpilman ◽  
Wanêssa Lacerda Poton

Objective: To identify the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) in medical students at Vila Velha University (UVV), ES, and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 360 medical students from February to April 2018. A self-administered, confidential and online questionnaire was used, including sociodemographic, economic data, family support, friends’ network, physical activity and academic performance, as well as Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA program, version 13.0. The Ethics Committee on Research with Humans approved the study, under number 2.108.290. Results: The prevalence of CMD among students was 45.6%. Risk factors were mental disorder in the family (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.54), poor sleep quality (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17-1.90), fear that impaired the academic result (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.77), feeling rejected by friends (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.07-1.96), thinking about giving up the course (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.29-2.17) and physical discomfort during the test (RR 1.63, 95% CI, 1.21-2.20). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of CMD among students was high, and the risk factors were significant. It is recommended that educational institutions and responsible government agencies be able to formulate and subsidize preventive actions and care for the mental health of medical students.  


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