1. Using an Education Intervention to Increase Preparedness Among Pet Owners: Results of a Pilot Study.
- Author
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Baker LR, Cormier LA, and Vogtle LK
- Subjects
- Animal Welfare standards, Animal Welfare statistics & numerical data, Animals, Civil Defense methods, Family Characteristics, Humans, Pilot Projects, Risk Factors, Students statistics & numerical data, Surveys and Questionnaires, Civil Defense standards, Pets psychology, Students psychology
- Abstract
Objectives: Households with pets are considered a high-risk population, presenting many challenges to response and recovery efforts. Research indicates that households with pets are less likely to evacuate during disasters, and pets left behind pose a health risk to relief workers and the general public. This pilot study explores a brief education intervention targeting households with pets as a method of increasing general household preparedness, with the purpose of facilitating evacuation and protective behaviors in this population., Methods: A convenience sample of households with pets was recruited to participate in a one-group pre- and post-survey design evaluating the impact of a brief education intervention on increasing pet-specific and general household preparedness levels., Results: Results suggest that the sample population was below national estimates in basic household preparedness before the intervention. Post-survey results indicate an increase in completion of some preparedness tasks after the intervention. There was a statistically significant increase in overall pet preparedness at the P=0.10 level; however, that difference did not translate into general household preparedness., Conclusion: The findings from this study are consistent with those from previous literature suggesting that persons often place the needs of their pets above their own; however, the use of a brief education intervention may be successful in increasing pet-specific preparedness levels, which may be useful in successful evacuation and pet well-being. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:441-445).
- Published
- 2018
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