A mixed-method evaluation of the One Health-ness at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria

Abstract

One Health (OH) is a concept that emphasises the interconnected nature of human, animal and environmental health. To achieve complete health through a OH approach, transdisciplinary work is required to ensure that different fields of health are cognisant of the impact that factors in other fields have on each other and that risks are addressed holistically.

This study intended to create an appropriate understanding of the OH-ness at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (FVS) to measure the impact of current and future strategic OH initiatives. The OH-ness refers to the overall orientation of the faculty towards the OH concept, through research and other academic activities.

This study has provided an understanding of the current state of OH-ness at the FVS by examining three main areas that allowed for a comprehensive and diverse evaluation of OH at the FVS. These three areas were evaluated using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data. A systematic review conducted between January 2010 and March 2020 of scientific research publications from the FVS was used to determine if there was an improvement or digression in OH related research publications, as well as an improvement or digression in the focus areas of these publications. Semi-structured interviews were performed with various staff members involved in OH activities within the FVS in order to determine the drivers, objectives and barriers faced by the various OH activities. A quantitative assessment of the OH activities was performed to evaluate their OH orientation.

Two baselines were created. Data related to the total number of OH-related research publications and the focus of these publications were collected. A second analysis was conducted on the OH orientation of activities at the FVS. These data sets provided a baseline that will allow for future studies to compare the progress of the OH orientation at the FVS.

Over the period under review a total of 1670 articles was published, with 197 (12%) being OH-related. The research identified that while there was an improvement in diversity and transdisciplinary efforts of scientific publications over the last 10 years, the growth fell below the global growth of OH-related research. There was an overreliance of OH research from a single department within the faculty and a lack of focus on environmental health research.

Five OH activities were identified through a review of scientific publications from the FVS. The project leaders of the OH activities were interviewed through a semi-structured approach in order to understand the reasons for

initiating the project and potential barriers. Four of the areas were research- driven and did not involve undergraduate veterinary science students. The fifth

areas was aimed at advancing the knowledge of undergraduate veterinary students about zoonotic diseases. Objectives of the OH activities varied from scientific gap to action. The FVS has the potential to grow its OH-ness because it has the experience, skills and knowledge. However, there was a lack of special OH funds or faculty level OH plans.