A Unique Spectrum of Care Tool Provides a Self-Regulated Learning Opportunity and Facilitates Client Communication

Providing only the most state-of-the-art, intensive, and expensive level of treatment available does not meet the needs of every pet owner and pet. To overcome this barrier, veterinarians are working to provide spectrum of care (SOC) options to pet owners. This teaching tip describes the creation of a Spectrum of Care Options Presentation and Explanation (SCOPE), a tool that can serve a variety of educational purposes and improve delivery of care across the spectrum of care. The SCOPE considers andragogy, evidence-based medicine, and pet owner preferences related to communication as well as the cost of care. The use of a SCOPE during oncology consultations led by an intern on an oncology service rotation demonstrated its utility in identifying evidence-based SOC options for pets with cancer, serve as a self-regulated learning experience for the participating intern, and elicit pet owner and pet contextual issues impacting the care plan. The SCOPE can be used to promote the implementation of SOC in veterinary medicine. The SCOPE is flexible and may be adapted for use in disciplines other than oncology and with a variety of learners, such as veterinary students, or in early career mentoring programs.