Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Pet Contact by Immunocompromised Children with Cancer and Immunocompetent Children with Diabetes
Abstract
Objective To compare knowledge, attitudes, and risks related to pet contact in households with and without immunocompromised children. Study design 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…
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77% of households that obtained a new pet following a cancer diagnosis acquired a high-risk pet.
“77% of households that obtained a new pet following a cancer diagnosis acquired a high-risk pet. 1,3”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
Physicians do not regularly ask about pet contact or discuss the risks of zoonotic diseases with patients, regardless of the patient's immune status.
“studies suggest physicians do not regularly ask about pet contact, nor do they discuss the risks of zoonotic diseases with patients, regardless of the patient's immune status. 1,3,4”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
The general public and people at high risk for pet-associated disease are not aware of the risks associated with high-risk pet practices or recommendations to reduce them.
“Additional surveys suggest that the general public and people at high risk for pet-associated disease are not aware of the risks associated with highrisk pet practices or recommendations to reduce them”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
Pet ownership practices and the frequency of animal contact in immunocompromised/high-risk patients are typically similar to those seen in the general public.
“However, pet ownership practices and the frequency of animal contact in this group are typically similar to those seen in the general public. 2,3”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
Pet ownership and the species involved in households with immunocompromised children and children aged less than 5 years are similar to households with immunocompetent children.
“Pet ownership, and the species involved, in households with immunocompromised children and children aged less than 5 years are similar to households with immunocompetent children. 2,3”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
Households that did not formerly own a pet may acquire one.
“Given that households that did not formerly own a pet may acquire one, 3”
From Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections (2015) · cites this paper as [3]
Cites
Stull, J. W., Peregrine, A. S., Sargeant, J. M., & Weese, J. S. (2012) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-553 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
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Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections
Stull, J. W., Brophy, J., & Weese, J. S. (2015) · Canadian Medical Association Journal · doi:10.1503/cmaj.141020 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Stull, J. W., Brophy, J., Sargeant, J. M., Peregrine, A. S., Lawson, M. L., Ramphal, R., Samson, L., Bowes, J., & Weese, J. S.
- Affiliations
- Ontario Veterinary College (CA)
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Stull, Jason W.
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Journal of Pediatrics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-08
- Volume
- 165
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 348-355.e2
- ISSN
- 0022-3476 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2081084458
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IslandScholar (University of Prince Edward Island) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- pet contact, zoonoses, immunocompromised children, childhood cancer, pediatric diabetes, pet ownership, parental knowledge and attitudes, household pets, children with chronic illness
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Animals, Child, Child, Preschool, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Humans, Infant, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Neoplasms, Ontario, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Zoonoses, Immunocompromised Host, Pets
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