Weight management: insights from the science of human behaviour change

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 396-401
Author(s):  
Tamzin Furtado
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Conversational Style ◽  
Welfare Problem ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon

Helping animal owners to recognise and manage obesity in their animals is a particularly complex area of communications in veterinary medicine. Several studies have outlined the difficulty veterinary professionals face in such discussions, including frustration with the client, embarrassment (particularly if the owner is also overweight), and a sense of inevitable failure. However, obesity continues to be a serious and prevalent welfare problem in dogs, cats, and probably other companion animals as well — hence those discussions will only continue. This review considers veterinary surgeon–client interactions around obesity from the perspective of behaviour change psychology and motivational interviewing, in order to determine how veterinary surgeons and nurses can best assist owners. We consider how an approach based on a supportive and empathetic conversational style could be best suited to these discussions, leading to tailored weight management solutions. Nurses are ideally placed to work with owners in this way.

Pheromones and 25 years of pheromonotherapy: what are they and how do they work?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 116-122
Author(s):  
Claire Hargrave
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Individual Member ◽  
Insect Pheromones ◽  
Synthetic Analogues ◽  
Insect Infestations ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon

The capacity of animals to communicate via pheromones is long established and, for generations, pheromones have been unwittingly used by man to manage the behaviour of animals in agriculture — using the chemicals produced by an individual member of a species to alter the behaviour of another member of that species. More recently, insect pheromones have been used in managing insect infestations of crops. However, approximately 25 years ago the French veterinary surgeon, Patrick Pageat, began to investigate the production of pheromones in both farm and companion animals and how synthetic analogues of pheromones could be used to improve animal welfare, creating a new field in veterinary medicine — pheromonotherapy. This article aims to summarise the main developments in pheromonotherapy over the last 25 years.

Some skin conditions in pigs: types, control and prevention

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 300-308
Author(s):  
John Carr ◽  
Mark Howells ◽  
William Hersey
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Careful Clinical Examination ◽  
Welfare Problem ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon ◽  
Skin Conditions

Skin conditions in pigs are common problems presented to the veterinary surgeon. A careful clinical examination, especially considering the age of the pig and the distribution of the lesions, all aids making an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Pain management is essential in clinical management. Sarcoptic mange is a condition that can be eliminated from pigs and should be considered a welfare problem. Ear necrosis and trauma injuries can be particularly problematic and must be treated aggressively. African swine fever (ASF) presents with a range of clinical signs including skin lesions, and all veterinary surgeons must be able to put ASF as a differential where appropriate.

Models for charging in practice: how should farm veterinary surgeons earn their living?

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-93
Author(s):  
Owen Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Professional Services ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon

There are many different ways that practices use for charging farm clients for their professional services. Ideally, the model is equitable for veterinary surgeon, client and animal. Different structures can influence how a practice's services are used and which services are successful. This article, which is an opinion piece, reviews common fee charging structures in UK farm practice. An argument is presented that if practices progressed towards a subscription-style charging model, at least for advisory work, and possibly for out-of-hours emergency work, this could be beneficial to farm businesses, veterinary businesses, farm veterinary surgeons, and the animals under their care.

scholarly journals OPEN ACCESS: Insights into UK farmers' attitudes towards cattle youngstock rearing and disease

Livestock ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 274-281
Author(s):  
Katharine Baxter-Smith ◽  
Robert Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Antibiotic Usage ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon ◽  
Beef Suckler ◽  
Housing Facilities

There is increased industry focus on optimised welfare, productivity and antibiotic usage in cattle youngstock, however, little is known about UK farmers' attitudes and practices in rearing calves. In this cross-sectional study, 479 farmers were surveyed online about their cattle youngstock rearing approach and outcomes. Represented were 174 dairy farmers, 255 beef suckler farmers and 50 calf rearers. Farmers showed awareness of good youngstock rearing practices such as colostrum management and housing facilities. Morbidity and mortality from diarrhoea (82%, 48%) and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) (68%, 48%) were high on farms surveyed but farmers did not frequently consult their veterinary surgeon regarding these diseases. Farmers surveyed were not always aware of the efficacy of preventative methods such as vaccination, and frequently used antibiotic treatments (27% for diarrhoea and 40% for BRD) but not diagnostics when animals had disease. Veterinary surgeons could use these insights to better understand farmers' motivations and priorities, to make communication more efficient and align goals.

Does Motivational Interviewing Improve the Weight Management Process in Adolescents? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Amiri ◽  
Mohammad Masih Mansouri-Tehrani ◽  
Ahmad Khalili-Chelik ◽  
Mehrdad Karimi ◽  
Sara Jalali-Farahani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Management Process

Motivational Interviewing: A Special Ethical Dilemma?

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. J. Withers
Keyword(s):  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Ethical Dilemma ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Life Goals ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Problem Behaviour ◽  
General Sense ◽  
Therapeutic Goals ◽  
Motivational Interventions

This paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the ethical issues in motivational interventions which have recently been raised by Miller (1994). Motivational interviewing is typically used when a therapist perceives a need for behaviour change in someone who is ambivalent about such change. Motivational interviewing aims to evoke motivation by making salient the inconsistency of continuing with a problem behaviour and other longer term or wider life goals. Miller (1994) discussed what was manipulative about this approach and considered both a descriptive and evaluative component. The ethics of motivational interviewing are considered here, within the context of psychological therapy in a general sense, and questions whether the ethical issues relevant to motivational interviewing are different from other psychological interventions. A distinction between the goals and the means of obtaining therapeutic goals is suggested as useful.

How human behaviour change science can help us manage obesity in horses

UK-Vet Equine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
Tamzin Furtado
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Equine Obesity ◽  
Reducing Energy

Equine obesity is one of the biggest welfare concerns facing our leisure horses today. As a preventable issue, with many serious consequences, obesity should be simple to fix (by reducing energy input and increasing exercise) – yet this issue remains one of the most complex and pervasive problems for the UK's horses. Despite many campaigns to raise awareness and improve owner education, levels of obesity in horses are thought to be as high as ever. In this article, we unpick some insights gained from the fields of psychology, sociology and human behaviour, which will help practitioners to find ways to buck the trend and encourage the equine community to manage horses' weight proactively.

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