Summary
This survey of 72 general practice veterinarians in Great Britain identifies substantial gaps in confidence and capability for diagnosing and managing highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard poultry flocks. Using the COM-B behaviour change model, the authors demonstrate that only 6% of respondents felt confident examining birds, and over 83% lacked confidence in ruling out HPAI diagnostically, creating potential barriers to timely reporting and disease control. The findings suggest that addressing HPAI diagnosis and reporting in primary veterinary care requires national-level support and structural interventions alongside individual professional development.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to United Kingdom veterinary practice and policy, as the study was conducted in Great Britain. The results suggest a critical gap in biosecurity and disease management capacity within primary care veterinary services, informing the need for national training programmes and support mechanisms for avian disease diagnosis and HPAI reporting.
Key measures
Percentage of veterinarians reporting confidence in seeing birds (6% fairly/very confident); percentage lacking confidence in ruling out HPAI as differential diagnosis (>83%); percentage unsure how to advise clients on suspected HPAI (17.1%)
Outcomes reported
The study measured general practice veterinarians' confidence in treating avian species and diagnosing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and identified barriers using the COM-B behaviour change framework. Key findings included prevalence of low confidence in bird handling and HPAI differential diagnosis among surveyed veterinarians.
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