Drivers of bat researchers’ intent to adopt field hygiene practices

Infectious disease is a growing threat to wildlife, with zoonotic transmission most likely at the human-wildlife interface. One underappreciated activity at this interface is fieldwork with wild animals, but associated risks can be mitigated through field hygiene (FH) practices, such as using personal protective equipment and other appropriate behaviors. Following the dissemination of International Union for Conservation of Nature FH guidelines for bat researchers, we investigated factors that affect bat researchers' intent to use FH practices under a theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework. Under the TPB, a person's intent to perform a behavior is influenced by their attitude toward, their subjective norms around, and their perceived behavioral control (PBC) about the behavior. We invited researchers who had recently conducted bat-related fieldwork to complete a qualitative questionnaire, generating data that we used to build a quantitative survey, which we disseminated widely to bat researchers. We analyzed ∼1000 survey responses with structural equation modeling and assessed the role of career stage, research focus, and socioeconomic status of the research location on intent. Bat researchers' intent to adopt FH practices was high overall. For those who do not focus on disease projects, the subjective norm was a strong driver of intent, with mentors the most influential norm referents; authoritative bodies that set regulations and peers were influential too. The only modeled barrier to intent was PBC-with beliefs that FH practices are impractical or uncomfortable contributing most to PBC. We concluded that senior researchers should be encouraged to use FH practices and encourage their mentees to do likewise. Technical solutions and education to mitigate impracticality and discomfort issues should also be encouraged. Although we focused on bat researchers, all wildlife fieldwork entails pathogen transmission risks. To mitigate them, FH practices must become entrenched in the wildlife research community; achieving this goal requires regulatory and social measures.