Veterinarian-client-patient communication patterns used during clinical appointments in companion animal practice

Abstract

Results suggest that veterinarians in companion animal practice use 2 distinct patterns of communication. Communication pattern was associated with duration of visit, type of appointment, and relationship-centeredness. Recognition of these communication patterns has implications for veterinary training and client and patient outcomes.

Veterinarian-client-patient communication during wellness appointments versus appointments related to a health problem in companion animal practice

“…We previously reported details of 2 studies 10,15 in which we applied the RIAS in a veterinary setting. In the first of these analyses, 10 we described general characteristics of veterinarian-client-patient communication during routine appointments in companion animal practice.…”

“…In a subsequent examination of the data, 15 cluster analysis of 4 key communication variables (biomedical question asking, biomedical information, lifestyle question asking, and lifestyle information) was used to identify patterns in the interview style of study veterinarians. As has been reported previously for physicians, 17,18 2 distinct communication patterns were identified.…”

“…Studies on human medical communication indicate that effective communication is related to important clinical outcomes, including patient satisfaction, 17,19,20 physician satisfaction, 17 patient adherence, 21 patient health outcomes, 22 and frequency of malpractice complaints. Videotapes used in 2 previous studies 10, 15 were analyzed to capture the nature and flow of interactions (ie, veterinarian to client, client to veterinarian, and veterinarian to patient) during these appointments, and clinical implications of the results were evaluated in light of evidence-based guidelines for medical communication. The purpose of the study reported here was to compare the clinical interview process, content of the medical dialog, and emotional tone of the veterinarianclient-patient interaction during wellness and problem appointments in companion animal practice.…”

Feline Obesity in Veterinary Medicine: Insights from a Thematic Analysis of Communication in Practice

“…It is not known in this study how in-depth weight and diet management discussions impact duration of the consultations, although Shaw et al (61) demonstrated that consultations that adopt a biolifestyle-social communication pattern are significantly shorter than those that focus on biomedical (62) and may be an avenue for future research. These data were counted in one region of one province in Canada, and socioeconomic and demographic factors of that region might influence the nature of these data.…”

Effect of question design on dietary information solicited during veterinarian-client interactions in companion animal practice in Ontario, Canada

“…Previous researchers adapted methods used in human medical communication 9 to analyze videotapes of veterinarian-client-patient interactions during clinic appointments and identify broad communication patterns 10 along with types of utterances, their proposed functions, and their relative frequencies. Previous researchers adapted methods used in human medical communication 9 to analyze videotapes of veterinarian-client-patient interactions during clinic appointments and identify broad communication patterns 10 along with types of utterances, their proposed functions, and their relative frequencies.…”