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Breaking Bad News in Veterinary Medicine
Bonnie McCracken Nickels1, Thomas Hugh Feeley2
1a School of Communication, Rochester Institute of Technology.
Health Communication
|June 17, 2017
Summary
Veterinarians utilize the COMFORT model to communicate difficult news, including euthanasia, to pet owners. This study identified key themes in breaking bad news (BBN) within veterinary practice.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Communication Studies
- Human-Animal Interactions
Background:
- The patient-provider relationship in veterinary medicine offers unique insights into communicating difficult news to pet owners.
- Effective communication strategies are crucial for veterinarians when delivering bad news.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify themes in how veterinarians break bad news (BBN) to pet owners.
- To explore the applicability of the COMFORT model in veterinary communication.
Main Methods:
- Structured interviews were conducted with 44 veterinarians.
- Veterinarians' responses were content-analyzed by two coders to identify communication themes.
- Themes were organized into breaking bad news in general, euthanasia, and social support.
Main Results:
- Several themes emerged regarding veterinarians' experiences with BBN.
- The COMFORT model provided a useful framework for organizing BBN communication in veterinary medicine.
- Identified themes related to general BBN, euthanasia discussions, and social support provision.
Conclusions:
- The COMFORT model can be effectively applied to structure breaking bad news in veterinary education.
- Further research into patient-provider communication in veterinary medicine is warranted.
- Findings support the potential value of the COMFORT model for training veterinary students in communication skills.
