Causes of stress and conflict in the veterinary professional workplace – a perspective from Poland

Abstract

Background The problems of burnout and the moral and ethical distress resulting from various kinds of conflict have been raised in the veterinary profession. However, their sources and inter-relationships have not been thoroughly recognized mainly due to the multidimensional nature of human interactions related to animal breeding, farming, welfare, prophylaxis and therapy. For the first time in Poland, an analysis of conflict and conflict-causing factors in veterinary practice has been conducted with the participation of veterinarians of various specialties and the owners of different animal species. Results Conflict in the course of work is most often experienced by young veterinarians. The problems associated with communication between veterinarians and animal owners and unforeseen random situations are the general causes of conflict. Approved Veterinarians were identified by animal owners as the most common professional group associated with the conflict experienced . Conclusions There is a lack of professional preparation by veterinary surgeons to cope with unpredicted stressful situations at work, resulting from an absence of appropriate educational input in this area. The animal owners do not understand the role and duties of Approved Veterinarians.

Are They Thinking Differently? The Perceptions and Differences in Medical Disputes between Veterinarians and Clients

“…For example, a 2021 survey by the British Veterinary Association revealed that 57% of veterinary staff felt intimidated by their clients’ behavior in the previous year, marking a 10% increase from 2019 [ 6 ]. This intimidation contributed to adverse mental stress, strained relationships with future clients, increased work pressure, and even career burnout [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…A considerable body of research underscores the increased work stress experienced by veterinary professionals, primarily due to suboptimal communication [ 7 , 14 , 19 , 20 ]. Veterinarians frequently express discontent or agitation from medical disputes due to communication breakdowns with clients.…”

“…Consequently, veterinarians have advocated enhancing their abilities to meet clients’ expectations [ 4 , 11 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Although it has traditionally been undervalued, the significance of communication and interpersonal skills is increasingly acknowledged in veterinary medicine, which may better equip veterinarians to confront anticipated challenges [ 6 , 7 , 24 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…Nonetheless, skillful communication necessitates a thorough understanding of the expectations of the veterinarian and the clients. To date, a limited number of studies have attempted to contrast the perspectives of veterinarians and clients regarding communication and the factors contributing to medical disputes [ 4 , 7 , 24 , 33 , 34 ]. Consequently, it is crucial to devote more research efforts to enhance our comprehension.…”

“…Although it has traditionally been undervalued, the significance of communication and interpersonal skills is increasingly acknowledged in veterinary medicine, which may better equip veterinarians to confront anticipated challenges [6,7,24,31,32].…”