Developing practical recommendations for preventative healthcare consultations involving dogs and cats using a Delphi technique

Belshaw, Zoe; Robinson, Natalie Jane; Dean, Rachel S; Brennan, Marnie Louise

Abstract

© © British Veterinary Association 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. Published by BMJ. Preventive healthcare is the focus of a large proportion of UK small animal veterinary consultations. The evidence base for how to optimise these consultations is limited. Therefore, evidence-based practical recommendations are needed for veterinary surgeons conducting these consultations. The aim of this study was to use an evidence-based methodology to develop the first consensus recommendations to improve dog and cat preventative healthcare consultations (PHCs). Evidence from multiple sources was systematically examined to generate a list of 18 recommendations. Veterinary surgeons and pet owners with extensive experience of PHCs were recruited to an anonymous panel to obtain consensus on whether these recommendations would improve PHCs. A Delphi technique was followed during three rounds of online questionnaire, with consensus set at 80 per cent agreement or disagreement with each recommendation. Thirteen of the original 18 recommendations reached consensus (>80per cent agreement), while the five remaining recommendations did not reach consensus. Globally, these are the first evidence-based recommendations developed specifically in relation to small animal general practice PHCs, generated via a Delphi panel including both veterinary surgeons and pet owners. Future work is needed to understand how these recommendations can be implemented in a range of veterinary practice settings.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 14, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2019
• Publication Date: Mar 14, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2019
• Journal: Veterinary Record
• Print ISSN: 0042-4900
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-7670
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 184
• Issue: 11
• Article Number: 348
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104970
• Keywords: General Veterinary; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2957067
• Publisher URL: https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/184/11/348