Translating research into practice: Adoption of endocrine diagnostic testing in cases of equine laminitis



Ireland, JL ORCID: 0000-0002-5737-1502 and McGowan, CM ORCID: 0000-0002-1946-9584
(2021) Translating research into practice: Adoption of endocrine diagnostic testing in cases of equine laminitis. The Veterinary Journal, 272. p. 105656.

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Abstract

Research demonstrating insulin's causal role in endocrinopathic laminitis has greatly advanced understanding of equine laminitis. However, the degree to which this knowledge has been translated into clinical practice has not been assessed. This two-part study aimed to investigate veterinary surgeons' current diagnostic approach to laminitis, whether this had changed over time, and the impact of diagnosing an endocrinopathy on laminitis case management and outcome. Two cross-sectional online surveys of equine veterinary surgeons working within the UK were undertaken. The first study population comprised 141 veterinary surgeons, who had graduated a median of 8 years previously. Overall, 83.6% of respondents (n = 117/140) had changed their diagnostic approach to laminitis since graduating, primarily through increasing use of endocrine testing (88.7%; n = 86/97). Ninety-nine percent (n = 140/141) performed endocrine diagnostic test(s) for some or all laminitis cases at initial and/or subsequent examinations. The second study had 120 participating veterinary surgeons, ≥76% of whom considered diagnosing underlying endocrine diseases greatly influenced their laminitis case management. Where an endocrinopathy was identified, 75.0% (n = 90/120) considered that client communication regarding laminitis was facilitated, and ≥67% considered that treating the endocrinopathy was effective in reducing laminitis recurrence. This study demonstrates successful translation of research knowledge into equine practice, with the vast majority of veterinary surgeons adopting endocrine diagnostic testing within their routine approach to laminitis cases. Respondents perceived that this change in diagnostic approach has resulted in improvements in several non-clinical and clinical healthcare outcomes, including client communication and reduction in recurrent laminitis episodes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Endocrinopathic, Evidence-based, Implementation science, Knowledge translation
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 07 Apr 2021 10:02
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 22:54
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105656
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3118405