Week 1- Pet Vaccinations
Anagha N -
Hi everyone!
Welcome back! Before I dive into the progress I’ve made this week, I want to explain why creating a resource on pet vaccinations is so important.
While there are existing online resources on pet health, they don’t always effectively reach their audience. A study by Niloofar Solhjoo and colleagues found that only 33% of people felt confident using online health information, and just 37% felt confident understanding these sources (Solhjoo, 2019). Attempts have been made to address this issue. Many veterinary practices provide pamphlets to pet owners, but these materials are often difficult to understand. A study by Kenneth Royal and colleagues found that “nine out of ten brochures were above the suggested sixth-grade reading level” (Royal, 2024). As a result, many pet owners still have misconceptions or unanswered questions about pet vaccinations.
Consequently, my goal is to create a website and a pamphlet that avoids the pitfalls of existing resources.
Progress:
This week, I’ve been working on the first step of my project: creating a survey for pet owners. This step is crucial because I need to identify common gaps and misconceptions so I can directly address them in my resource. I plan to distribute the survey to pet owners while they wait for their veterinarian. To gather a diverse dataset, I hope to collect responses from both pet owners who vaccinate and those who don’t. Additionally, I want to ensure the survey is short and easy to understand.
Survey Questions:
Here are some of the key questions I’ve included in my survey:
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Do you currently have pet insurance for your pet?
- Yes
- No
-
If you do not have pet insurance, what are the main reasons? (Check all that apply)
- Cost
- Uncertainty about coverage
- Not aware of available plans
- Other (please specify) _______________
-
Do you understand the differences between core and non-core vaccines for your pet?
- Yes
- No
- Somewhat
-
What factors do you believe contribute to the need for vaccination in pets? (Check all that apply)
- Age
- Breed
- Diet
- Exposure to other animals
- Previous health conditions
- Living environment (indoor/outdoor)
- Other (please specify) _______________
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How confident are you in knowing which vaccines your pet needs?
- Very confident
- Somewhat confident
- Not confident
- Not sure
-
How confident are you in using online resources or pamphlets to learn about vaccinations?
- Very confident
- Somewhat confident
- Not confident
- I don’t use online resources
-
Do you have any concerns about vaccines for pets?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
-
If yes, what concerns do you have about vaccines for pets? (Check all that apply)
- Safety and side effects
- Vaccine effectiveness
- Misinformation online
- Cost
- Other (please specify) _______________
-
Is your pet up to date on all their vaccinations?
- Yes
- No
Next Steps:
This week, I also visited the vet clinic to finalize my schedule. I’ll be going in about two to three times per week. I’ve been consulting with veterinarians and vet techs for feedback on my survey questions, and I plan to show them my finalized version later this week. Once I receive their feedback and make necessary adjustments, I’ll share the approved version here.
That’s all for now, see you next time!
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