Survey Design
This project was part of a more extensive survey designed to question
two general cohorts – equine veterinarians and equine
caretakers/owners. Nonprobability convenience sampling was used to
access information from as many producers as possible. A survey
questionnaire was created using Qualtrics (Provo, UT), and the questions
were reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania State University
Institutional Review Board (IRB, STUDY00016457). The survey was then
pilot tested on a sample audience to check for continuity of questions
and any potential errors. The survey was distributed via email (Penn
State Extension equine list) and social media (Facebook) to
veterinarians across the United States and was accessible from
April-July 2021. Several online equine and agriculture publications also
promoted the survey.
The survey questions aimed at veterinarians were grouped into six
categories: respondent demographics, knowledge of ticks and TBDs,
availability of tick control options, frequency of ticks and TBDs on
horses, and availability of veterinary education and information on
equine ticks and TBDs. The target population for this study included
anyone at least 18 years of age who was a veterinarian that evaluated
horses in their practice.