About this Research Topic

Background

Due to the remarkable success of the Research Topic 'Access to Veterinary Care' and the rapidly evolving subject area, we are pleased to launch Volume II for this topic.

Access to veterinary care is a critical field of research that addresses the barriers preventing pets from receiving necessary medical attention. The 2018 Access to Veterinary Care Coalition study highlighted the profound impact that limited access to veterinary services has on both pets and their human families, particularly those facing financial hardships. As pets are increasingly considered family members, the inability to provide them with adequate care can lead to significant emotional and mental stress for their owners. Recent studies have shown that financial constraints are a major barrier, especially for families dependent on public assistance. Despite ongoing efforts, there remains a need for sustainable, evidence-based solutions to improve access to veterinary care, particularly through interprofessional collaborations and One Health strategies that address the holistic well-being of both pets and their families.

This research topic aims to explore and evaluate various approaches to reducing barriers to veterinary care. The primary objectives include identifying effective strategies, validating service delivery models, and understanding the broader impacts of limited access to veterinary services. Specific questions to be addressed include: What are the most effective evidence-based practices for improving access to veterinary care? How can One Health collaborations enhance service delivery? What roles do veterinary and social work education play in mitigating these barriers? By answering these questions, the research aims to contribute to the development of more inclusive and sustainable veterinary care systems.

To gather further insights into the complexities of access to veterinary care, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- The Human-Animal Bond
- Validation of veterinary service delivery models, including payment options
- Companion animal welfare, public health, and society
- One Health collaborations as a paradigm to improve access to veterinary care, including veterinary social work
- Validation of spectrum of care/incremental veterinary care protocols and guidelines as effective patient management strategies
- The roles of veterinary and social work education in improving access to veterinary care
- Cultural competence, diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine and animal welfare
- Programs that mitigate barriers to veterinary care in urban, suburban/small town, and rural communities
- Use of technology in improving access to veterinary care, e.g., virtual healthcare/telehealth
- The impacts that lack of access to veterinary care have on the well-being of veterinary care teams

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: one-health, animal welfare, veterinary social work, human-animal bond, community partnerships, remove barriers to veterinary care, incremental veterinary care

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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