| Summary: | The consultation is an important and ubiquitous interaction in veterinary practice although the definition of a ‘good’ small animal veterinary consultation has yet to be identified. Using a mixed methods approach, this PhD thesis aimed to define what constitutes a good small animal veterinary consultation, identify important constituents, and ascertain which of these could be measured.
A systematic review identified limited good-quality evidence for the appraisal of success of small animal, health problem consultations, with adherence, client satisfaction and vet satisfaction the only published outcome measures available. Subsequently, a qualitative study investigated the perceptions of key consultation stakeholders and proposed a definition for the good consultation as one where “there is balance; an appropriate shared-decision is reached through two-way communication, all stakeholders are in agreement regarding the next steps, with the patient’s welfare maintained or improved. This study argued for a re-definition of shared decision-making and a reframing of consultation skills teaching, to place greater emphasis on decision- making. The final study appraised consultation assessment instruments and assessed their suitability for use in further academic studies and in general practice, validating the use of a visual analogue scale as a simplified measure of satisfaction.
The final chapter of this thesis addressed numerous recurring findings, including mismatches in stakeholder expectations, trust and satisfaction with recommendations made for the veterinary profession and veterinary educators.
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