Tsokana Constantina N, Valiakos George, Mwacalimba Kennedy, Riley Danielle, Enstone Ashley, Wyn Robin, Metcalf Tom, Melchior Emily, Pavlidou Eleni, Wright Andrea
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jul 6;15(13):1985. doi: 10.3390/ani15131985.
Cat owners are involved in their cats' healthcare, including the prevention of parasitic diseases. However, a comprehensive understanding of their preferences for feline antiparasitics is lacking. This study addresses this gap through a multifaceted methodology comprising three phases. In Phase 1, the physical properties and usability aspects of seven topical antiparasitic formulations were assessed. Within Phase 2, an ease-of-use study was conducted to evaluate the cat owners' application experience with deidentified products representing three topical antiparasitics. Phase 3 included the identification and validation of product attributes most valued by pet owners through interviews with cat owners and veterinary experts. The product attributes identified informed the subsequent quantitative discrete choice experiment (DCE), which involved 1040 cat owners from different countries (Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Greece/Spain, and the UK) and aimed to analyze their preferences based on choices among product profiles mirroring four topical antiparasitics: selamectin-sarolaner, moxidectin-fluralaner, moxidectin-imidacloprid, and eprinomectin-esafoxolaner-praziquantel. Phase 1 showed that the selamectin-sarolaner formulation exhibits minimal odor, less stickiness, and less drying time. The ease-of-use study (Phase 2) showed that the blinded product representing the selamectin-sarolaner formulation was characterized by seamless application, rapid dispensing, and a sense of control during application. The quantitative DCE study (Phase 3) indicated a preference for the product profile mirroring the selamectin-sarolaner formulation among a global sample of cat owners. Demographic characteristics such as gender, age, and insurance status influenced their preferences. Key predictors for preferring the selamectin-sarolaner formulation over at least one comparator treatment included the ability to confirm successful administration, age restrictions, ease of application, and the time before the cat could sit on furniture following administration. These findings suggest that cat owners prioritize ease of use, safety, and overall user experience, providing valuable guidance for veterinary practitioners to make informed treatment recommendations.
猫主人会参与其猫咪的医疗保健，包括预防寄生虫病。然而，目前缺乏对他们对猫用抗寄生虫药偏好的全面了解。本研究通过一个包含三个阶段的多方面方法来填补这一空白。在第一阶段，评估了七种局部用抗寄生虫制剂的物理性质和易用性方面。在第二阶段，进行了一项易用性研究，以评估猫主人使用代表三种局部用抗寄生虫药的匿名产品的应用体验。第三阶段包括通过与猫主人和兽医专家访谈来识别和验证宠物主人最看重的产品属性。所确定的产品属性为后续的定量离散选择实验（DCE）提供了信息，该实验涉及来自不同国家（澳大利亚/新西兰、加拿大、希腊/西班牙和英国）的1040名猫主人，旨在根据他们在反映四种局部用抗寄生虫药的产品简介中的选择来分析他们的偏好：塞拉菌素-沙罗拉纳、莫昔克丁-氟拉纳、莫昔克丁-吡虫啉以及依普菌素-埃沙福拉纳-吡喹酮。第一阶段表明，塞拉菌素-沙罗拉纳制剂气味最小、粘性较小且干燥时间较短。易用性研究（第二阶段）表明，代表塞拉菌素-沙罗拉纳制剂的盲法产品具有涂抹无缝、给药迅速以及涂抹过程中有掌控感的特点。定量DCE研究（第三阶段）表明，在全球猫主人样本中，他们更倾向于反映塞拉菌素-沙罗拉纳制剂的产品简介。性别、年龄和保险状况等人口统计学特征影响了他们的偏好。相较于至少一种对照治疗，更倾向于塞拉菌素-沙罗拉纳制剂的关键预测因素包括确认给药成功的能力、年龄限制、易用性以及给药后猫咪能够坐在家具上之前的时间。这些发现表明，猫主人将易用性、安全性和整体用户体验放在首位，为兽医从业者做出明智的治疗建议提供了有价值的指导。
