Patient-friendly practice: how achievable is putting the behavioural and emotional needs of patients at the centre of routine patient interactions and care?

The purpose of this survey is to explore attitudes and perceptions of veterinary professionals based on their knowledge and experience of a) companion animal behaviour, and b) patient friendly practice. Your participation in this study has been invited due to you being a veterinary professional.

This survey is part of a research project. Please answer each question honestly, with assurance that each response will be anonymous. There are no “right or wrong” answers - it is simply your experience/opinion that is sought for the purposes of this study. The results of this survey, and its associated research project, will collated and used for an academic assignment, and may subsequently be published and/or used for education purposes.

Definitions: Patient-practice friendly (PFP) is aimed at reducing patient stress, promoting positive veterinary experiences and, is defined as:

• Promotion of positive ways for veterinary staff interact with/behave toward patients;
• Empathic, respectful and compassionate approach to patient interactions; 
• Environment managment to reduce stress; 
• Use of positive reinforcement behaviour modification;
• Recognition of and response to the patient’s emotional needs; 
• Use of considerate, gentle handling of patients. 
• Provision of adequate caregiver education and support; p
• A willingness to consider judicious use of medications to prevent patient suffering and facilitate necessary procedures and handling. 

Thank you for your participation!