TY - JOUR KW - poultry KW - management factors KW - confounding bias KW - multifactorial analysis KW - cluster analysis AU - D Eva AU - S Kösters AU - I Ruddat AU - L Kreienbrock AU - A Campe AB - In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a “site effect” generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. BT - Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift C1 - {"oldId":99011,"title":"Differences and similarities between locations in a multisite project: a comparison of features of production systems for laying hens","topline":"","teaserText":"Unterschiedlich- und \u00c4hnlichkeiten zwischen verschiedenen Orten einer multizentrischen Studie: Vergleich der Eigenschaften von Produktionssystemen f\u00fcr Legehennen","content":"

Summary<\/span>
In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health\/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a \u201csite effect\u201d generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. <\/p>

Keywords<\/span>
poultry, management factors, confounding bias, multifactorial analysis, cluster analysis<\/p>

Zusammenfassung<\/span>
In der veterin\u00e4rmedizinischen Forschung ist ein Trend zu disziplin\u00fcbergreifenden Projekten zu beobachten. Neben den jeweils untersuchten Faktoren k\u00f6nnen zahlreiche Umweltfaktoren die erzielten Studienergebnisse verzerren. Die hier vorgestellte Studie charakterisiert Unterschiedlichkeit und \u00c4hnlichkeit von Ausstattungsmerkmalen in Legehennenhaltungssystemen auf f\u00fcnf Versuchsstationen, die Teil eines Verbundprojekts zu Kleingruppensystemen f\u00fcr Legehennen waren. Die Daten wurden anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens in pers\u00f6nlichen Interviews erhoben. Die Variablen wurden in inhaltliche Bereiche gruppiert (Legehennenst\u00e4lle, Beleuchtung, Stallklima, Struktur der Versuchsstation, F\u00fctterung, Management, Gesundheit\/Hygiene und Personal), und nach einem Selektionsprozess wurde eine hierarchische, agglomerative Clusteranalyse durchgef\u00fchrt. Obwohl alle Versuchsstationen mit vergleichbaren Forschungsschwerpunkten gef\u00fchrt werden, wurde insgesamt zwischen ihnen Heterogenit\u00e4t festgestellt. Innerhalb der verschiedenen inhaltlichen Bereiche war jeweils zwischen einzelnen Versuchsstationen \u00c4hnlichkeit erkennbar. Dies zeigt, dass es vom inhaltlichen Kontext abh\u00e4ngig war, welche Versuchsstationen miteinander \u00e4hnliche Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse aufwiesen. Diese detaillierte Analyse zeigt exemplarisch, wie Studien mit mehreren Standorten trotz vorheriger Harmonisierung des Studiendesigns empfindlich gegen\u00fcber der Heterogenit\u00e4t des betrieblichen Managements sind. Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass die Bedingungen, unter welchen eine Studie durchgef\u00fchrt wird, nicht ignoriert werden sollten. Zuk\u00fcnftige Studien sollten Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Standorten ermitteln. Dies w\u00fcrde ein Angleichen der Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse f\u00fcr mehr Homogenit\u00e4t oder eine Stratifizierung anhand von \u00c4hnlichkeit der Ausstattungsmerkmale innerhalb des jeweiligen Kontexts erlauben. Das generelle Einbeziehen eines \u201eStandorteffekts\u201c in multifaktorielle Analysen kann den gegebenenfalls vorhandenen Confounding Bias reduzieren und dadurch die Validit\u00e4t der erzielten Ergebnisse verbessern.<\/p>

Schl\u00fcsselw\u00f6rter<\/span>
Gefl\u00fcgel, Managementfaktoren, Confounding Bias, Multifaktorielle Analyse, Clusteranalyse<\/p>","categories":["Tier\u00e4rztliche Wochenschrift","Abostufe BMTW","Fachartikel"],"fromDate":"Nov 11, 2016 11:00:00 PM","oldUrls":["http:\/\/vetline.de\/differences-and-similarities-between-locations-in-a-multisite-project-a-comparison-of-features-of-production-systems-for-laying-hens\/150\/3130\/99011"],"doiLanguage":"englisch","doiProductFormat":"online","doiPublisher":"Schl\u00fctersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG","doiSerialWorkTitle":"Berliner und M\u00fcnchener Tier\u00e4rztliche Wochenschrift ","doiDocumentUri":"http:\/\/www.vetline.de\/differences-and-similarities-between-locations-in-a-multisite-project-a-comparison-of-features-of-production-systems-for-laying-hens\/150\/3130\/99011\/","doiSource":"Berliner und M\u00fcnchener Tier\u00e4rztliche Wochenschrift 129, Heft 11\/12 (2016), Seiten 507\u2013517","doiissn":"0005-9366","doiNr":"10.2376\/0005-9366-15063","doiFirstPage":"507","doiLastPage":"517","doiTransmitted":true,"doiAuthor":"Eva D, K\u00f6sters S, Ruddat I, Kreienbrock L, Campe A","pdf":{"path":"http:\/\/data\/BMW_2016_11_12_0507.pdf","title":"BMW_2016_11_12_0507.pdf","description":"Differences and similarities between locations in a multisite project: a comparison of features of production systems for laying hens"},"authors":[{"firstName":"D","middleName":"","lastName":"Eva"},{"firstName":"S","middleName":"","lastName":"K\u00f6sters"},{"firstName":"I","middleName":"","lastName":"Ruddat"},{"firstName":"L","middleName":"","lastName":"Kreienbrock"},{"firstName":"A","middleName":"","lastName":"Campe"}],"contentOptimised":"

Summary<\/strong>
In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health\/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a \u201csite effect\u201d generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. <\/p>

Keywords:<\/strong>
poultry, management factors, confounding bias, multifactorial analysis, cluster analysis<\/p>

Zusammenfassung<\/strong>
In der veterin\u00e4rmedizinischen Forschung ist ein Trend zu disziplin\u00fcbergreifenden Projekten zu beobachten. Neben den jeweils untersuchten Faktoren k\u00f6nnen zahlreiche Umweltfaktoren die erzielten Studienergebnisse verzerren. Die hier vorgestellte Studie charakterisiert Unterschiedlichkeit und \u00c4hnlichkeit von Ausstattungsmerkmalen in Legehennenhaltungssystemen auf f\u00fcnf Versuchsstationen, die Teil eines Verbundprojekts zu Kleingruppensystemen f\u00fcr Legehennen waren. Die Daten wurden anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens in pers\u00f6nlichen Interviews erhoben. Die Variablen wurden in inhaltliche Bereiche gruppiert (Legehennenst\u00e4lle, Beleuchtung, Stallklima, Struktur der Versuchsstation, F\u00fctterung, Management, Gesundheit\/Hygiene und Personal), und nach einem Selektionsprozess wurde eine hierarchische, agglomerative Clusteranalyse durchgef\u00fchrt. Obwohl alle Versuchsstationen mit vergleichbaren Forschungsschwerpunkten gef\u00fchrt werden, wurde insgesamt zwischen ihnen Heterogenit\u00e4t festgestellt. Innerhalb der verschiedenen inhaltlichen Bereiche war jeweils zwischen einzelnen Versuchsstationen \u00c4hnlichkeit erkennbar. Dies zeigt, dass es vom inhaltlichen Kontext abh\u00e4ngig war, welche Versuchsstationen miteinander \u00e4hnliche Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse aufwiesen. Diese detaillierte Analyse zeigt exemplarisch, wie Studien mit mehreren Standorten trotz vorheriger Harmonisierung des Studiendesigns empfindlich gegen\u00fcber der Heterogenit\u00e4t des betrieblichen Managements sind. Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass die Bedingungen, unter welchen eine Studie durchgef\u00fchrt wird, nicht ignoriert werden sollten. Zuk\u00fcnftige Studien sollten Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Standorten ermitteln. Dies w\u00fcrde ein Angleichen der Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse f\u00fcr mehr Homogenit\u00e4t oder eine Stratifizierung anhand von \u00c4hnlichkeit der Ausstattungsmerkmale innerhalb des jeweiligen Kontexts erlauben. Das generelle Einbeziehen eines \u201eStandorteffekts\u201c in multifaktorielle Analysen kann den gegebenenfalls vorhandenen Confounding Bias reduzieren und dadurch die Validit\u00e4t der erzielten Ergebnisse verbessern.<\/p>

Schl\u00fcsselw\u00f6rter:<\/strong>
Gefl\u00fcgel, Managementfaktoren, Confounding Bias, Multifaktorielle Analyse, Clusteranalyse<\/p>","primaryLanguage":"englisch","summary":"In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health\/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a \u201csite effect\u201d generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. <\/p>

","keywords":["poultry","management factors","confounding bias","multifactorial analysis","cluster analysis"],"zusammenfassung":"In der veterin\u00e4rmedizinischen Forschung ist ein Trend zu disziplin\u00fcbergreifenden Projekten zu beobachten. Neben den jeweils untersuchten Faktoren k\u00f6nnen zahlreiche Umweltfaktoren die erzielten Studienergebnisse verzerren. Die hier vorgestellte Studie charakterisiert Unterschiedlichkeit und \u00c4hnlichkeit von Ausstattungsmerkmalen in Legehennenhaltungssystemen auf f\u00fcnf Versuchsstationen, die Teil eines Verbundprojekts zu Kleingruppensystemen f\u00fcr Legehennen waren. Die Daten wurden anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens in pers\u00f6nlichen Interviews erhoben. Die Variablen wurden in inhaltliche Bereiche gruppiert (Legehennenst\u00e4lle, Beleuchtung, Stallklima, Struktur der Versuchsstation, F\u00fctterung, Management, Gesundheit\/Hygiene und Personal), und nach einem Selektionsprozess wurde eine hierarchische, agglomerative Clusteranalyse durchgef\u00fchrt. Obwohl alle Versuchsstationen mit vergleichbaren Forschungsschwerpunkten gef\u00fchrt werden, wurde insgesamt zwischen ihnen Heterogenit\u00e4t festgestellt. Innerhalb der verschiedenen inhaltlichen Bereiche war jeweils zwischen einzelnen Versuchsstationen \u00c4hnlichkeit erkennbar. Dies zeigt, dass es vom inhaltlichen Kontext abh\u00e4ngig war, welche Versuchsstationen miteinander \u00e4hnliche Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse aufwiesen. Diese detaillierte Analyse zeigt exemplarisch, wie Studien mit mehreren Standorten trotz vorheriger Harmonisierung des Studiendesigns empfindlich gegen\u00fcber der Heterogenit\u00e4t des betrieblichen Managements sind. Dieses Beispiel zeigt, dass die Bedingungen, unter welchen eine Studie durchgef\u00fchrt wird, nicht ignoriert werden sollten. Zuk\u00fcnftige Studien sollten Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Standorten ermitteln. Dies w\u00fcrde ein Angleichen der Umgebungseinfl\u00fcsse f\u00fcr mehr Homogenit\u00e4t oder eine Stratifizierung anhand von \u00c4hnlichkeit der Ausstattungsmerkmale innerhalb des jeweiligen Kontexts erlauben. Das generelle Einbeziehen eines \u201eStandorteffekts\u201c in multifaktorielle Analysen kann den gegebenenfalls vorhandenen Confounding Bias reduzieren und dadurch die Validit\u00e4t der erzielten Ergebnisse verbessern.<\/p>

","schluesselwoerter":["Gefl\u00fcgel","Managementfaktoren","Confounding Bias","Multifaktorielle Analyse","Clusteranalyse"],"translatedTitle":"Unterschiedlich- und \u00c4hnlichkeiten zwischen verschiedenen Orten einer multizentrischen Studie: Vergleich der Eigenschaften von Produktionssystemen f\u00fcr Legehennen","abstractE":"In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health\/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a \u201csite effect\u201d generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. ","date":{"year":2016,"date":"11\/2016","accepted":"2016-11-11"},"volume":"129","openAccess":false,"journal":"Berliner und M\u00fcnchener Tier\u00e4rztliche Wochenschrift","titleImageId":944,"pages":"507-517","redirects":["differences-and-similarities-between-locations-in-a-multisite-project-a-comparison-of-features-of-production-systems-for-laying-hens\/150\/3130\/99011"],"tierartCategories":[],"artikelartCategories":["Tier\u00e4rztliche Wochenschrift","Abostufe BMTW","Fachartikel"]} CY - Hannover DA - 11/2016 DO - 10.2376/0005-9366-15063 ET - 11/12 LA - English N2 - In veterinary research a trend towards interdisciplinary projects is apparent. Apart from experimentally investigated factors, numerous environmental factors may confound the obtained study results. The present study characterises the differences and similarities of features in the laying hen husbandry system of five field stations, which were part of a consortium project that investigated enriched colony housing for laying hens. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. The variables were grouped into contextual subsets (poultry premises, light, climate, facility structure, nutrition, management, health/hygiene, and workforce), and after a preselection process, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed. Although all field stations were operated for similar research reasons, heterogeneity between the field stations was observed. Within the different contextual subsets similarity of individual field stations was visible. Thus it is shown, that it depended on the context, which field stations had similar environmental settings. This in-deep analysis showed exemplarily, how a multisite study may be subject to heterogeneous influences of farm management despite preliminary adjustment in study design. This example shows that the conditions under which a study is conducted should not be ignored. Future studies should therefore assess differences of study locations. This would allow an adjustment of the environmental settings to achieve homogeneity, or stratification according to similarity of equipment features in the respective context. Including such a “site effect” generally in the multifactorial analysis may reduce confounding bias if present and hence improve the validity of the observed results. PB - Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG PP - Hannover PY - 2016 SP - 507 EP - 517 T1 - Differences and similarities between locations in a multisite project: a comparison of features of production systems for laying hens T2 - Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift TI - Differences and similarities between locations in a multisite project: a comparison of features of production systems for laying hens TT - Unterschiedlich- und Ähnlichkeiten zwischen verschiedenen Orten einer multizentrischen Studie: Vergleich der Eigenschaften von Produktionssystemen für Legehennen VL - 129 SN - 0005-9366 ER -