Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey
IntroductionCapacity in veterinary epidemiology is critical to detect, respond and control infectious diseases. Laos veterinary service is limited by having only a small number of veterinarians who graduated from overseas. Animal science graduates support the majority of the Laos veterinary services...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1096554/full |
| _version_ | 1797866816668696576 |
|---|---|
| author | Supatsak Subharat Dethaloun Meunsene Vannaphone Putthana Harish Tiwari Simon M. Firestone |
| author_facet | Supatsak Subharat Dethaloun Meunsene Vannaphone Putthana Harish Tiwari Simon M. Firestone |
| author_sort | Supatsak Subharat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCapacity in veterinary epidemiology is critical to detect, respond and control infectious diseases. Laos veterinary service is limited by having only a small number of veterinarians who graduated from overseas. Animal science graduates support the majority of the Laos veterinary services. The veterinary program was established in 2009 at the National University of Laos. We aimed to understand the national veterinary epidemiology capacity and identify gaps and training needs.MethodA cross-sectional online study was conducted in 2021 targeting central (DLF), provincial (PAFO) and district (DAFO) government animal health officers and veterinary/animal science academics (n = 332). The questionnaire addressed skills, experiences and perceived training needs in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys, One Health, leadership and communication and biosecurity. A descriptive analysis was performed and associations between demographic factors and epidemiological skills were examined.Results and discussionIn total, 205 respondents completed the questionnaire (61.8% response rate). Respondents reported low or no skills and experience in data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys and One Health. In contrast, higher but limited skills and experiences were reported in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and biosecurity. Previous epidemiology training was primarily associated with stronger experiences in veterinary epidemiology competencies, followed by respondents that had completed a veterinary degree, highlighting the value of the currently available epidemiology training and veterinary-trained personnel in Lao PDR. This study could help inform the Laos government in its policy planning for field veterinary epidemiology capacity and future training. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:30:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ab8357a387c477fbfb5300f2fc92f08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:30:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ab8357a387c477fbfb5300f2fc92f082023-03-21T05:26:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-03-011010.3389/fvets.2023.10965541096554Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online surveySupatsak Subharat0Dethaloun Meunsene1Vannaphone Putthana2Harish Tiwari3Simon M. Firestone4EpiCentre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New ZealandDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Vientiane, LaosDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, Vientiane, LaosSydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, AustraliaFaculty of Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaIntroductionCapacity in veterinary epidemiology is critical to detect, respond and control infectious diseases. Laos veterinary service is limited by having only a small number of veterinarians who graduated from overseas. Animal science graduates support the majority of the Laos veterinary services. The veterinary program was established in 2009 at the National University of Laos. We aimed to understand the national veterinary epidemiology capacity and identify gaps and training needs.MethodA cross-sectional online study was conducted in 2021 targeting central (DLF), provincial (PAFO) and district (DAFO) government animal health officers and veterinary/animal science academics (n = 332). The questionnaire addressed skills, experiences and perceived training needs in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys, One Health, leadership and communication and biosecurity. A descriptive analysis was performed and associations between demographic factors and epidemiological skills were examined.Results and discussionIn total, 205 respondents completed the questionnaire (61.8% response rate). Respondents reported low or no skills and experience in data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys and One Health. In contrast, higher but limited skills and experiences were reported in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and biosecurity. Previous epidemiology training was primarily associated with stronger experiences in veterinary epidemiology competencies, followed by respondents that had completed a veterinary degree, highlighting the value of the currently available epidemiology training and veterinary-trained personnel in Lao PDR. This study could help inform the Laos government in its policy planning for field veterinary epidemiology capacity and future training.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1096554/fullfield epidemiologyanimal healthcapacitysurveyLao PDRSoutheast Asia |
| spellingShingle | Supatsak Subharat Dethaloun Meunsene Vannaphone Putthana Harish Tiwari Simon M. Firestone Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey Frontiers in Veterinary Science field epidemiology animal health capacity survey Lao PDR Southeast Asia |
| title | Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey |
| title_full | Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey |
| title_fullStr | Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey |
| title_short | Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey |
| title_sort | field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of lao pdr an online survey |
| topic | field epidemiology animal health capacity survey Lao PDR Southeast Asia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1096554/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT supatsaksubharat fieldepidemiologycapacityofthenationalveterinaryservicesoflaopdranonlinesurvey AT dethalounmeunsene fieldepidemiologycapacityofthenationalveterinaryservicesoflaopdranonlinesurvey AT vannaphoneputthana fieldepidemiologycapacityofthenationalveterinaryservicesoflaopdranonlinesurvey AT harishtiwari fieldepidemiologycapacityofthenationalveterinaryservicesoflaopdranonlinesurvey AT simonmfirestone fieldepidemiologycapacityofthenationalveterinaryservicesoflaopdranonlinesurvey |