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Professor JOHN BURFORD's Outputs (21)

Experiences of End-of-Life Decision-Making in Equine Veterinary and Charity Teams (2025)
Journal Article
Cameron, A., Geldard, M., Mair, T., England, G., Burford, J., Freeman, S., Pollock, K., & Wilson, E. (2025). Experiences of End-of-Life Decision-Making in Equine Veterinary and Charity Teams. Animals, 15(5), Article 678. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050678

Veterinary and charity teams are frequently involved in equine end-of-life decisions. These can cause ethical dilemmas and emotional burdens and complicate communication with owners. Semi-structured focus groups explored experiences of making decisio... Read More about Experiences of End-of-Life Decision-Making in Equine Veterinary and Charity Teams.

A scoping review on intraoperative and postoperative surgical castration complications in domesticated equids (2024)
Journal Article
Rodden, E. B., Suthers, J. M., Busschers, E., Burford, J. H., & Freeman, S. L. (2024). A scoping review on intraoperative and postoperative surgical castration complications in domesticated equids. Equine Veterinary Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14122

Background: Castration is the most common surgical procedure in domesticated equids; surgical techniques used and perioperative management vary considerably. Objectives: To identify and chart the current evidence on perioperative complications associ... Read More about A scoping review on intraoperative and postoperative surgical castration complications in domesticated equids.

UK horse owners and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision‐making for critical cases of colic (2024)
Journal Article
Burrell, K. L., Burford, J. H., England, G. C., & Freeman, S. L. (2024). UK horse owners and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision‐making for critical cases of colic. Equine Veterinary Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14124

Background: The survival of horses diagnosed with critical colic (requiring referral or euthanasia) relies on rapid and effective decision-making by the owner and veterinary practitioner. Objectives: To explore UK horse owners' and veterinary practit... Read More about UK horse owners and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision‐making for critical cases of colic.

Multicenter study investigating long‐term survival after synovial lavage of contaminated and septic synovial structures in horses presented to 10 UK referral hospitals (2024)
Journal Article
de Souza, T. C., Burford, J., Freeman, S., Busschers, E., & Suthers, J. M. (2024). Multicenter study investigating long‐term survival after synovial lavage of contaminated and septic synovial structures in horses presented to 10 UK referral hospitals. Veterinary Surgery, 53(6), 1083-1092. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14107

Objective
To report the long-term survival of adult horses that were subjected to synovial lavage for treatment of contaminated and septic synovial structures.

Study design
Multicenter, prospective observational trial.

Animals
Horses (n = 24... Read More about Multicenter study investigating long‐term survival after synovial lavage of contaminated and septic synovial structures in horses presented to 10 UK referral hospitals.

Horse owners' and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision-making for critical cases of colic (2024)
Preprint / Working Paper
Freeman, S., Burrell, K., Burford, J., & England, G. Horse owners' and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision-making for critical cases of colic

Background: The survival of horses diagnosed with critical colic relies on rapid and effective decision-making by owner and veterinary practitioner. Objectives: To explore horse owners’ and veterinary practitioners’ experiences of decision-making for... Read More about Horse owners' and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision-making for critical cases of colic.

Prospective case study of critical decision making for horses referred for treatment of colic (2023)
Journal Article
Burrell, K., Sutton‐Walker, G., England, G. C. W., Burford, J. H., & Freeman, S. L. (2023). Prospective case study of critical decision making for horses referred for treatment of colic. Veterinary Record, 194(12), Article e3615. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3615

Background
There is limited evidence on factors affecting critical decision making for horses with colic. This study's aim was to describe the assessment and decision making involved in horses referred for management of colic.

Methods
An in-dept... Read More about Prospective case study of critical decision making for horses referred for treatment of colic.

Use of human behaviour change models to investigate horse owner intention to adopt emergency colic recommendations (2023)
Journal Article
Lightfoot, K. L., Frost, E., Burford, J. H., England, G. C. W., & Freeman, S. L. (2024). Use of human behaviour change models to investigate horse owner intention to adopt emergency colic recommendations. Equine Veterinary Journal, 56(1), 147-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13955

Background
Behavioural models are widely used within human medicine to understand beliefs and intention associated with major health interventions.

Objectives
To investigate horse-owner beliefs and practices associated with emergency colic plann... Read More about Use of human behaviour change models to investigate horse owner intention to adopt emergency colic recommendations.

Scoping review of end-of-life decision-making models used in dogs, cats and equids (2022)
Journal Article
Cameron, A., Pollock, K., Wilson, E., Burford, J., England, G., & Freeman, S. (2022). Scoping review of end-of-life decision-making models used in dogs, cats and equids. Veterinary Record, 191(4), Article e1730. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.1730

Background: End-of-life decisions for companion animals can be stressful for veterinarians and owners, and when delayed result in poor animal welfare. Delayed euthanasia has been identified as a particularly prominent issue for horses. This scoping r... Read More about Scoping review of end-of-life decision-making models used in dogs, cats and equids.

Developing consensus for definitions of key veterinary-specific quality improvement (QI) terms using an eDelphi-study method (2021)
Journal Article
Rooke, F., Burford, J., Doorly, A., Gush, C., & Brennan, M. L. (2021). Developing consensus for definitions of key veterinary-specific quality improvement (QI) terms using an eDelphi-study method. Veterinary Record, Article e1174. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.1174

Background: Quality improvement (QI) methods are a continuous process of iterative tests to improve the quality of a service or product. Using common language has been linked to the successful implementation of QI in human healthcare. This study aime... Read More about Developing consensus for definitions of key veterinary-specific quality improvement (QI) terms using an eDelphi-study method.

A scoping review of the current evidence on treatment and outcomes following synovial sepsis (2021)
Journal Article
de Souza, T. C., Suthers, J. M., Busschers, E., Burford, J. H., & Freeman, S. L. (2022). A scoping review of the current evidence on treatment and outcomes following synovial sepsis. Equine Veterinary Journal, 54(3), 467-480. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13527

Background
Synovial sepsis is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Despite advances in diagnostics and treatments, persistent infection or chronic lameness can occur.

Objectives
To perform a scoping review to identify and evalu... Read More about A scoping review of the current evidence on treatment and outcomes following synovial sepsis.

Owners' Knowledge and Approaches to Colic in Working Equids in Honduras (2021)
Journal Article
Wild, I., Freeman, S., Robles, D., Matamoros, D., Ortiz, M., Rodriguez, J., & Burford, J. (2021). Owners' Knowledge and Approaches to Colic in Working Equids in Honduras. Animals, 11(7), Article 2087. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072087

In Honduras, many families are reliant on working equids in their daily life. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge about, and approaches to colic used by owners of working equids in Choluteca, Honduras using a phenomenological approach. Se... Read More about Owners' Knowledge and Approaches to Colic in Working Equids in Honduras.

Quality Improvement: origins, purpose and the future for veterinary practice (2021)
Journal Article
Rooke, F., Burford, J., Freeman, S., Mair, T., Suthers, J., & Brennan, M. (2021). Quality Improvement: origins, purpose and the future for veterinary practice. Veterinary Evidence, 6(2), https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v6i2.358

Providing the highest quality veterinary care can often be a delicate balancing act: the client/owner’s wishes, financial parameters and emotional needs have to be considered, whilst also meeting the animal’s clinical needs. But what actually defines... Read More about Quality Improvement: origins, purpose and the future for veterinary practice.

Cross‐sectional study of UK horse owner's purchase and euthanasia decision‐making for their horse (2021)
Journal Article
Clough, H., Roshier, M., England, G., Burford, J., & Freeman, S. (2021). Cross‐sectional study of UK horse owner's purchase and euthanasia decision‐making for their horse. Veterinary Record, 188(6), Article e56. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.56

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate factors affecting horse owners’ purchase and euthanasia decisions that had been identified in a qualitative study.
Methods: An online survey on horse owners’ purchase and euthanasia decisi... Read More about Cross‐sectional study of UK horse owner's purchase and euthanasia decision‐making for their horse.

Indicators of ‘critical’ outcomes in 941 horses seen ‘out-of-hours’ for colic (2020)
Journal Article
Bowden, A., England, G. C. W., Brennan, M. L., Mair, T. S., Furness, W. A., Freeman, S. L., & Burford, J. H. (2020). Indicators of ‘critical’ outcomes in 941 horses seen ‘out-of-hours’ for colic. Veterinary Record, 187(12), 492-492. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105881

Background: This study aimed to describe the presentation and outcomes of horses with signs of colic (abdominal pain) seen 'out-of-hours' in equine practice. Methods: This was a retrospective study of horses seen 'out-of-hours' with colic by two equi... Read More about Indicators of ‘critical’ outcomes in 941 horses seen ‘out-of-hours’ for colic.

Retrospective case series to identify the most common conditions seen ‘out-of-hours’ by first-opinion equine veterinary practitioners (2020)
Journal Article
Boynova, P., Bowden, A., Boynova, P., England, G. C. W., Brennan, M. L., Mair, T. S., Furness, W. A., Freeman, S. L., & Burford, J. H. (2020). Retrospective case series to identify the most common conditions seen ‘out-of-hours’ by first-opinion equine veterinary practitioners. Veterinary Record, 187(10), 404-404. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105880

Background: The study aim was to describe conditions seen 'out-of-hours' in equine practice. Methods: This was a retrospective case series of first opinion 'out-of-hours' cases seen at two equine practices between 2011 and 2013. Data were retrieved o... Read More about Retrospective case series to identify the most common conditions seen ‘out-of-hours’ by first-opinion equine veterinary practitioners.

A scoping review of the current literature exploring the nature of the horse-human relationship (2019)
Journal Article
Clough, H. .., Burford, J., England, G., & Freeman, S. L. (2019). A scoping review of the current literature exploring the nature of the horse-human relationship. Veterinary Evidence, 4(4), https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v4i4.240

Objective: To perform a scoping review of the current evidence on the horse-human relationship.

Background: The horse-human relationship has a significant impact on how horse owners care for and make decisions for their horse.

Evidentiary value... Read More about A scoping review of the current literature exploring the nature of the horse-human relationship.

Cross-sectional study of horse owners’ knowledge, and opinions on recognising colic in the horse (2019)
Journal Article
Bowden, A., Burford, J., Brennan, M., England, G., & Freeman, S. (2019). Cross-sectional study of horse owners’ knowledge, and opinions on recognising colic in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13173

Background
Colic is the most common emergency problem in the horse. An owner’s ability to recognise colic and seek assistance is a critical first step in determining case outcome.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess horse owners’ know... Read More about Cross-sectional study of horse owners’ knowledge, and opinions on recognising colic in the horse.

Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes (2019)
Journal Article
Curtis, L., Burford, J. H., England, G. C. W., & Freeman, S. L. (2019). Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes. PLoS ONE, 14(7), 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219307

Acute abdominal pain (colic) is the most common reason for emergency veterinary treatment in the horse. Consolidation of data through a systematic review is important to inform evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines, but there are currently... Read More about Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes.

Emergency Conditions in Horses: Opinions and Decision Making of Livery Yard Owners (2019)
Journal Article
Bowden, A., Burford, J., Brennan, M., England, G., & Freeman, S. (2019). Emergency Conditions in Horses: Opinions and Decision Making of Livery Yard Owners. Veterinary Evidence, 4(2), https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v4i2.199

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate equine livery yard owners’ opinions of emergency conditions, and to identify factors influencing emergency decision making in the horse.

Background: There is limited data on horse owners’ opinions a... Read More about Emergency Conditions in Horses: Opinions and Decision Making of Livery Yard Owners.