USER-ALT Nathan Peterson and others , Cornell University , Ithaca , USA
Providing care that may be considered futile or without benefit to the patient takes a considerable toll on members of a clinical team . Such situations may occur , for example , when a veterinary professional and pet owner disagree about whether further treatment would impose burdens that are disproportionate to the potential benefits for the patient . The authors report a study based on an anonymous survey completed by 474 members of specialist veterinary associations . Nearly all respondents recognised that futile care does occur in veterinary practice , but nearly 70 % disagreed with the suggestion that such efforts are always wrong . The authors state that there is a need for an agreed definition on what exactly constitutes futile care in veterinary practice .
Assessment of a rapid method for evaluating dogs with sepsis and septic shock
USER-ALT Ann-Mari Osgood and others , Texas A & M University , College Station , USA
Sepsis is a cause of high morbidity and mortality in veterinary patients , and the rapid detection of this condition in the emergency room may be crucial . However , there is no simple , reliable test for identifying dogs with sepsis . The authors examined the clinical utility of a quick sequential organ-failure assessment score calculated from measurements of respiratory rate and arterial systolic blood pressure , together with evidence of altered mentation . It was used in 45 dogs presenting with severe sepsis and septic shock and another 45 with non-infectious inflammatory response syndrome . The method showed poor prediction of mortality and low sensitivity for identifying those patients with sepsis or septic shock .
Impact on client satisfaction of shared decision-making by clinicians and pet owners
USER-ALT Yuma Ito and others , Teikyo University , Itabashi-ku , Japan
Shared decision-making between veterinary staff and clients is recognised as an important aspect of modern practice . However , there has been little research into measuring the effects of this approach or its impact on client satisfaction . The authors questioned 14 veterinarians and 77 pet owners about their experience of shared decision-making during a consultation and asked the latter group about their satisfaction with the process . The results indicate a strong preference for this form of consultation among pet owners , suggesting that the approach should be adopted by practitioners who normally favour a more traditional consultation style .
12 Veterinary Nursing Journal