Owner and Veterinarian Perceptions About Use of a Canine Quality of Life Survey in Primary Care Settings

Abstract

This paper describes dog owner and veterinarian perceptions around the use of a validated canine quality of life (QOL) survey to facilitate wellness conversations in two clinical settings: a veterinary teaching hospital (pilot, Phase 1) and five corporate general practice hospitals (Phase 2). Phase 1 results showed that dog owners felt the survey was valuable for understanding their dog's QOL, with 81% of owners expressing interest in learning more about canine QOL. Phase 2 reinforced owner perceptions about the survey conveyed during the pilot phase, and veterinarians reported that the survey facilitated client communication related to preventive care without increasing consultation time. These results demonstrate that beyond using QOL assessments to track patient health, the use of a QOL survey during veterinary visits could improve owner-veterinarian discussions around QOL, wellness, services and preventive care. To fully realize these benefits in clinical settings, veterinary staff preparation may be needed to communicate the purpose of QOL assessments to clients and thus facilitate deeper conversations about client needs and concerns. Key tools for achieving these could therefore include (1) sufficient veterinary team training to understand the QOL assessment and its purpose (2) training in how to communicate QOL to clients, and (3) reflexive use of QOL assessment results to engage clients in preventive care discussions. The veterinarian and client can then discuss the pros and cons of the various aspects of QOL and preventive care to arrive at a cooperative decision.

Owner‐reported outcome measures in veterinary care for companion animal orthopedic patients: An international online survey of veterinarians' expectations and practices

“…These may include replacing paper‐based forms with digitized OROMs; the development of user‐friendly digital platforms (such as centralized databases and cloud applications) that can be integrated into the existing electronic medical record systems and facilitate the delivery, storage, processing, access, and visualization of OROMs; adequate training to the owners and veterinarians on understanding OROMs and their purpose; and better education of veterinarians on how to communicate the results to owners and how to use OROMs to engage owners in the consultation 3 . An example of educating veterinarians on how to use OROMs can be found in the study by Mwacalimba et al, where the veterinarians were provided with a one‐page guidance document that explained the purpose of the QoL assessment and provided talking points for introducing and explaining the assessment results to owners 5 . These improved the usability of the QoL assessment and resulted in favorable acceptance from the veterinarians.…”

“…Improving patient outcomes should be the ultimate goal for patient care, both in humans and animals 2 . Owner (observer)‐reported outcome measures (OROMs) are validated questionnaires that provide semiquantitative scores based on the subjective evaluation of companion animals' health, function, and/or QoL by their owners/carers 5 . Outcomes from the perspective of the animal's owner/carer are increasingly incorporated in evidence‐based veterinary studies through the use OROMs.…”

“…Implementing OROMs in routine veterinary clinical practice can enhance the understanding of the treatment effects on clinical outcomes and QoL of companion animal patients from the owner's perspective 2 . The use of OROMs can facilitate communication with owners 4 and enhance the effectiveness of consultations without increasing consultation time 5 . Applying OROMs may also be an effective way of increasing owner engagement and satisfaction 3 …”

Quality of Life Measurement in Dogs and Cats: A Scoping Review of Generic Tools

“…After completing the questionnaire, several participating owners found the tool encouraged them to think about and subsequently improve their dog's QoL. Similarly, Mwacalimba et al [2] found a canine QoL survey to be of value in a primary veterinary clinic, with 81% of pet owners expressing interest in learning about QoL.…”

“…Due to the intense human-animal bond, pets are often considered valued and respected members of the family [1,2]. Throughout an animal's life, a variety of health issues and medical conditions may develop requiring appropriate treatment or palliative care where necessary.…”