Improving vet-client communication through understanding the client perspective

Stefania Uccheddu
San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Veggiano, Italy

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Caregiver burden, anticipatory grief and quality of life are not interchangeable constructs and may have a different impact on companion animal owners’ decisions and behaviour.
Although it is not within vets’ scope of practice to treat psychological issues in clients, it is important for them to understand the perspective of clients experiencing any kind of distress, as this will help foster effective communication.
There is a clear link between client distress and outcomes of stress and burnout for vets. This phenomenon is known as burden transfer.
Making the client feel included and supported during the decision-making process can help reduce their feelings of distress. This not only benefits the client and their pet but also helps safeguard the vet against outcomes such as burnout and compassion fatigue.