A survey of Tennessee veterinarian and physician attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding zoonoses prevention among animal owners with HIV infection or AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of Tennessee veterinarians and physicians engaged in clinical practice regarding the risk for and prevention of zoonoses in people with HIV infection or AIDS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Licensed Tennessee veterinarians and physicians engaged in clinical practice.


METHODS
A survey was mailed in January 2010 to 454 licensed veterinarians and 1,737 licensed physicians.


RESULTS
181 of 419 (43.20%) eligible veterinarians and 201 of 1,376 (14.61%) eligible physicians responded to the survey. A majority of both veterinarians (131/179 [73.18%]) and physicians (97/192 [50.52%]) indicated that veterinarians should always or almost always be involved in advising clients with HIV infection or AIDS. The majority of veterinarians (120/173 [69.36%]) indicated they always or almost always discussed with clients the potential risk to immune-compromised persons after diagnosing a zoonosis. A high proportion (88/94 [93.62%]) of physicians indicated they never or rarely initiated discussions about zoonoses with patients with HIV infection or AIDS. All physicians (94/94 [100%]) indicated they never or rarely contacted veterinarians for advice on zoonoses. Similarly, 174 of 180 (96.76%) veterinarians had never or rarely contacted physicians for advice on zoonoses risks. Only 25.97% of veterinarians and 33.33% of physicians were correctly able to identify zoonotic pathogens of greatest concern to people with HIV infection or AIDS.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified several implications for veterinary medical and medical practice that may reduce zoonoses transmission risks for people with HIV infection or AIDS, including increased communication between veterinarians and physicians, increased communication between people with HIV infection or AIDS and health-care providers, increased availability of client educational materials, and increased participation in zoonoses continuing education opportunities by health-care providers.
Office of Laboratory Animal Care, Institute of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. wahill@utk.edu
William Allen
WA
Hill
Gregory C
GC
Petty
Paul C
PC
Erwin
Marcy J
MJ
Souza
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011634:Public Health; D013714:Tennessee; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission