Dirofilaria immitis prevention messaging: Knowledge and attitudes of students from North America attending the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St Kitts

BACKGROUND: The expansion of vector‐borne diseases is considered to be a threat to pet health. Some diseases such as heartworm disease have effective individual prevention methods; however, population‐level disease control is limited by the lack of treatment compliance by pet owners. Veterinarians have a primary role in increasing compliance by educating owners on the appropriate prevention measures. Veterinary educational approaches targeting prevention strategies could strengthen prevention messaging at a clinic level. METHODS: A knowledge and attitude study was conducted with incoming Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine students as a preliminary assessment of this hypothesis. RESULTS: Seventy‐three students were interviewed using a tested and standardised questionnaire during their first weeks and 38 answered the same questionnaire one year later. All of the participants had previous experience in a veterinary clinical setting. Knowledge about the disease was variable, usually higher in former veterinary technicians. Unfortunately, knowledge of heartworm prevention was low. In addition, willingness to share knowledge on disease prevention did not change even after one year in veterinary school. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that additions within the veterinary and veterinary technician school curriculum may be required to improve knowledge about disease prevention and ultimately promote better communication with pet owners and veterinary clinical teams.