Measuring the success of canine and feline preventative healthcare consultations: A systematic review

Abstract

Preventative healthcare consultations account for a large proportion of the veterinary caseload. This novel study is the first to methodically review all literature on canine and feline preventative healthcare consultations. Previous research has found these consultations to be different from health problem consultations in terms of communication style and content. Identifying relevant evidence and previously validated methods of measuring the success of these consultations will be useful when implementing strategies for optimisation. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the quality of existing literature which describes and/or measures the success of preventative healthcare consultations. Database searches of CAB Abstracts and Medline were conducted to identify published literature. Google searches were then conducted to identify any additional published or grey literature. Results were systematically screened to determine whether the returned sources were about cats and/or dogs, whether they related to preventative healthcare, and whether they described and/or measured the success of preventative healthcare consultations. For primary research citations which only described preventative healthcare consultations, data were extracted on the aspects of the consultations described. For citations which additionally measured the success of the consultations, the measures used, sampling technique, key results and key weaknesses were also extracted. Of 17,538 citations identified in total during the database searches, a total of seven relevant primary research citations were identified. All of these citations described aspects of the preventative healthcare consultation, such as consultation length, health problems discussed, actions taken and communication style. Only one primary research citation measured success of the consultation, using veterinarian satisfaction to determine success. In addition, 30 narrative citations, including expert opinion pieces, textbooks, guidelines without transparent methodology and conference presentations were identified. Google searches identified 224 relevant narrative citations, and five of the seven primary research citations identified by the database searches, but did not identify any additional relevant primary research citations. The results suggest that, despite accounting for around a third of all consultations, there is relatively little evidence describing preventative healthcare consultations and only one measure of success has been described for these consultations. This presents potential challenges when implementing strategies to optimise these consultations, as measures which are useful and relevant to veterinary practice should first be identified. Identifying useful measures of success will allow future strategies designed to maximise the benefits of these consultations to be meaningfully assessed for efficacy.

Interventions to assist pet owners in online health information seeking behaviour: a qualitative content analysis literature review and proposed model

“…Veterinarians should be prepared to discuss online information clients bring up during their appointments, creating an opportunity to educate and consult clients about health information seeking and evaluating (Hofmeister, Watson, Snyder, & Love, ; Kogan et al., ; Trevejo, ). In order to maximise the benefits of vet–client communication, it is vital to understand how best to measure the success of a consultation, for instance through pet owners’ satisfaction, their behavioural change or pet health status (Robinson et al., ). Therefore, we can assume veterinarians–client communication has an important role in providing information evaluation skills and reducing negative outcomes of online consumer pet health information.…”

“…The effect of doctor-patient communication on HISB of patients has been characterised in many studies (Iverson, Howard, & Penney, 2008;Murray et al, 2003;Shaw, Adams, Bonnett, Larson, & Roter, 2004;Shaw, Bonnett, Adams, & Roter, 2006; Zare- Farashbandi, Lalazaryan, Rahimi, & Hassanzadeh, 2017). In reviewing veterinary-client communication, the topics addressed are as follows: analysis of veterinary-client communication (McArthur & Fitzgerald, 2013;Robinson, Belshaw, Brennan, & Dean, 2018); and the influence of communicative behaviour on pet health outcomes (Lue et al, 2008;Coe, Adams, & Bonnett, 2008;Kanji, Coe, Adams, & Shaw, 2012;Sakshi, Satyanarayan, Jagadeeswary, & Shilpa Shree, 2017). While Mayer (2008) recommends that there are differences in the doctor-patient and veterinarian-pet owner relationships, they are similar enough that studies from human medicine can be used to understand the information seeking behaviour of veterinary clients.…”

Topics discussed, examinations performed and strategies implemented during canine and feline booster vaccination consultations

“…In only one of these papers was the 'success' of the consultation measured in the form of veterinarian satisfaction. 7 Pet health plans, which allow clients to spread the cost of preventative healthcare across the year, have recently grown in popularity. 8 These may potentially change the nature of the discussion during vaccination consultations, as it may be considered that preventative treatments have already been communicated to the pet owner upon joining the plan.…”

Developing practical recommendations for preventative healthcare consultations involving dogs and cats using a Delphi technique

“…9 14 15 However, recommendations have not been developed for what should happen during the PHCs, and the evidence on which to base any recommendations appears weak. 16 Since its development by Dalkey and Helmer, 17 the Delphi technique has been widely used as a method for exploring and achieving agreement, or consensus, on a real-world topic. [18][19][20] This qualitative methodology involves combining the knowledge and opinions of a carefully selected panel of 'experts' within a speciic ield and the completion of iterative rounds of an online survey to obtain group consensus on answers to questions that are highly uncertain.…”

“…Expert opinion has been used to generate recommendations about how preventative medicines should be used 9 14 15 . However, recommendations have not been developed for what should happen during the PHCs, and the evidence on which to base any recommendations appears weak 16 …”