title: Willingness to Consult a Veterinarian on Physician's Advice for Zoonotic Diseases: A Formal Role for Veterinarians in Medicine?
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?
authors.affiliation: Tropical Health Solutions, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speare
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.affiliation: Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, United States of America.
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzipori
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Tamworth, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Massey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011634:Public Health; D011793:Queensland; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018634:Veterinarians; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*