Preliminary assessment of a tool for measuring relationship-centred communication in veterinary consultations (adapted VR-COPE)

Abstract

Relationship-centred communication is considered a desirable goal in veterinary medicine, and a number of different tools have been developed to measure relationship-centred communication. This study was designed as an initial assessment of an adapted version of the Verona Patient-centred Communication Evaluation (VR-COPE) scale, originally developed for medical communication research, to evaluate its potential for measuring relationship-centredness in veterinary consultations. Fifty-five consultations in the United Kingdom and United States of America were videotaped and analysed. The median VR-COPE total score (out of a potential 100 points) was 76.00 for all consultations. The highest overall score was for "Structuring" (of the consultation), whereas the lowest scores were for "Client Worries," "Psychological Impact," and "Empathy." This initial assessment of the adapted VR-COPE suggests it may be helpful in measuring content, process, and structuring skills related to relationship-centredness in veterinary consultations. It may also help uncover aspects of relationship-centredness that are unique from those uncovered by other tools. Further research is needed to fully assess the role of VR-COPE in veterinary communication research and the contributions it can make to relationship-centredness in veterinary consultations.