Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pet contact by immunocompromised children with cancer and immunocompetent children with diabetes.
J Pediatr
; 165(2): 348-355.e2, 2014 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24928703
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To compare knowledge, attitudes, and risks related to pet contact in households with and without immunocompromised children. STUDYDESIGN:
A questionnaire was distributed to parents of children diagnosed with cancer (immunocompromised; n=80) or diabetes (immunocompetent; n=251) receiving care at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Information was collected on knowledge of pets as sources of disease, concerns regarding pet-derived pathogens, and pet ownership practices. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression.RESULTS:
The questionnaire was completed by 65% (214 of 331) of the individuals to whom it was given. Pet ownership was common; 45% of respondents had a household pet when their child was diagnosed, and many (households with a child with diabetes, 49%; households with a child with cancer, 20%) acquired a new pet after diagnosis. Most households that obtained a new pet had acquired a pet considered high risk for infectious disease based on species/age (diabetes, 73%; cancer, 77%). Parents of children with cancer were more likely than parents of children with diabetes to recall being asked by a physician/staff member if they owned a pet (OR, 5.9) or to recall receiving zoonotic disease information (OR, 5.3), yet these interactions were reported uncommonly (diabetes, ≤13%; cancer, ≤48%). Greater knowledge of pet-associated pathogens was associated with recalled receipt of previous education on this topic (OR, 3.9). Pet exposure outside the home was reported frequently for children in non-pet-owning households (diabetes, 48%; cancer, 25%).CONCLUSION:
Improved zoonotic disease education is needed for pet-owning and non-pet-owning households with immunocompromised children, with ongoing provision of information while the children are at increased risk of disease. Additional efforts from pediatric and veterinary healthcare professionals are required.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Zoonoses
/
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Immunocompromised Host
/
Diabetes Mellitus
/
Pets
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Animals
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Pediatr
Year:
2014
Type:
Article