Search

Information exchange and decision-making support positive healthcare outcomes. Focus group, questionnaire-based and observational research methodologies were used to investigate these important aspects of communication for companion animal veterinary practice. Pet owner expectations and veterinarians’ perceptions of pet owner expectations regarding information exchange and decision-making, along with communication challenges veterinarians face, were explored using 5 focus groups of pet owners (n=27) and 3 of veterinarians (n=24). Inductive thematic analysis of focus groups identified two themes: information exchange and decision-making. Subthemes of information exchange included understanding the client and providing information suitable for the client. Decision-making was seen by pet owners as an opportunity to be involved in their pets’ veterinary care decisions. Veterinarian-specific barriers were time constraints, involvement of multiple clients and language barriers. Audio-video recorded veterinary appointments (n=714) involving 60 veterinarians were assessed using the OPTION5 instrument to quantify client involvement in veterinary care decisions. Veterinarians’ mean score was 22.6 out of 100, indicating low use of client-involving behaviours. Veterinarians with fewer years in practice and increased appointment length were associated with higher levels of shared decision-making when controlling for a significant interaction between client household income and appointment type. Questionnaires were used to assess veterinarians’ (n=416) and veterinary clients’ (n=529) perceptions of information exchanged about pets’ blood tests. Significant differences were found between the perceptions of participating veterinarians and clients regarding the frequency with which veterinarians educated clients about characteristics of their pets’ blood tests. A mixed methods study was conducted to explore and identify characteristics associated with companion animal veterinarians’ communication of health parameter trends. Focus groups explored pet owners and veterinarians’ perceptions of veterinarians’ communication of health parameter trends and codes were identified. Audio-video recorded veterinary appointments (n=911) were analyzed using the focus group codes to assess the prevalence and nature of these conversations in practice. Fewer than 10% (76/911) of appointments included any mention of a health parameter trend; of those that did, the majority discussed body weight. This thesis contributed to the understanding of veterinarian-client-patient interactions regarding decision-making and identifies opportunities to improve client engagement in veterinary care by enhancing understanding of information exchange. OVC Pet Trust, Royal Canin

Poster was part of 'What We Know' display, held on March 1, 2017 at the Quebec Street Mall in Downtown Guelph. At 'What We Know,' the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute brought together 50 posters featuring diverse research on Guelph and Wellington from community organizations, municipal staff, faculty and students. Topics included feral cats, farmland loss, food waste, the wellbeing of children and more - all specific to Guelph and Wellington. Animal shelters are often overwhelmed by the influx of cats and are constantly seeking solutions to better their outcomes. This project investigates the time trends in admission rates and risk factors that affect cats' length-of-stay at the Guelph Humane Society from 2011 to 2016, while assessing the effectiveness of the Capacity for Care program. This program is an animal population management plan which is aimed at reducing intake, increasing adoption rates, decreasing length-of-stay, and improving the welfare of cats in shelters. In 2014, the Guelph Humane Society implemented the Capacity for Care program to expedite the movement of cats through the shelter. The effects of this program on intake and length-of-stay of cats at the Guelph Humane Society are assessed. A significant reduction in admissions of adult cats following the introduction of the program was found when the analysis was adjusted for kittens. Cats were also 24% more likely to be adopted after its implementation. Exotic breeds were 64% more likely to be adopted than domestic shorthairs, males were 20% more likely to be adopted than females, and adult cats were 13% more likely to be adopted than kittens. This study provides evidence that the Capacity for Care program is associated with a reduced length of stay for cats and an increased likelihood of adoption, which suggests it is suitable for improving cat welfare and reducing cat overpopulation in the City of Guelph.

This thesis is an investigation of the time trends in admission rates and risk factors that affect time-to-adoption of cats at the Guelph Humane Society, from 2011 to 2016, while assessing the effectiveness of the Capacity for Care program. In 2014, the Guelph Humane Society implemented the Capacity for Care program at its shelter to improve the movement of cats through the shelter. The effects of this program are assessed using time series and survival analysis. There was a significant reduction in admissions of adult cats following the introduction of the Capacity for Care program when the analysis was adjusted for kitten admissions. Cats were also 24% more likely to be adopted after the implementation of the Capacity for Care program. This thesis is the first to study the effects of the Capacity for Care program using long-term data, in addition to using statistical methods appropriate for retrospective count data. Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust