title: A survey of Canadian public health personnel regarding knowledge, practice and education of zoonotic diseases.
abstract: Zoonoses, diseases that can spread under natural conditions between humans and other animals, are become a major public health concern in many countries including Canada. In Canada, investigations of zoonotic disease incidents are often conducted by public health inspectors (PHIs). However, little is known about PHIs' knowledge of transmission of zoonotic pathogens, their perceptions of zoonotic disease importance or their education regarding zoonotic diseases. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the knowledge, perceptions and education of Canadian PHIs regarding zoonotic diseases. Data were collected from December 2008-January 2009 using an internet-based survey distributed to members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors national listserv. Responses were received from 229 PHIs in four provinces, with a response rate of approximately 20%. The majority of respondents reported at least 10 years of experience in the public health sector, 80% (181/225) were in frontline positions, and 62% (137/222) were routinely involved in investigations of infectious diseases. Two-thirds believed that the importance of zoonotic diseases with regards to public health would increase in the next 5 years. Whilst most respondents were able to correctly identify animals capable of directly transmitting common zoonotic pathogens, there were gaps in knowledge, particularly with regard to rabies and transmission of gastrointestinal pathogens by companion animals. PHIs tended to feel that their training on zoonotic diseases prior to working as PHIs was deficient in some areas, or left some room for improvement. Their responses also suggested that there is a need for improvement in both the quantity and the quality of continuing education on zoonotic diseases. In particular, less than one-third of PHIs received ongoing continuing education regarding zoonotic diseases, and of those that did, nearly two-thirds rated the quantity and quality as only fair.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Snedeker
authors.forename: M E C
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sargeant
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002170:Canada; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D004285:Dogs; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D057805:Pets; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D000078329:Workforce; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Canada; Zoonoses; education; knowledge; public health inspector; survey