Other commonly reported obstacles included:
• Insufficient training or guidelines
• Concerns about breaching client confidentiality
• Limited awareness of supporting organisations
• Lack of confidence
• Inability to provide adequate client support
• Apprehension about damaging the client – practice relationship
• Inconvenience and perceived absence of economic benefit to the practice.
Free-text responses highlighted additional issues such as perceived pressure from practice management not to report, a sense that the topic remains taboo, concerns that abuse may be deliberately overlooked, and a lack of confidence in relevant organisations and the justice system. Almost a quarter of respondents were unaware that the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct( section 14) permits breaching client confidentiality in order to report cases of abuse [ 19 ].
Perceptions of the implementation of additional guidelines and services to enable veterinary professionals to handle the issue and support clients and patients effectively
The majority( 82.6 %) of the veterinary professionals who participated in this study did not feel that they had received adequate training to identify and report suspected cases of domestic violence and animal abuse. Many respondents commented that they had researched this area themselves in order to feel more confident. Furthermore, 87 % did not feel that there were adequate guidelines for identifying and reporting suspected cases of domestic violence and animal abuse. One respondent noted that the work involved in finding guidelines is a task that becomes a barrier to reporting and handling cases adequately. Of the respondents, 81.4 % stated that there was not a protocol within their practice for identifying and reporting suspected cases of abuse.
A large majority( 93.8 %) felt that the implementation of additional protocols and guidelines for identifying and reporting suspected cases of domestic violence and animal abuse would be beneficial. Many noted that having an official practice protocol would minimise barriers from management and senior members of staff. However, one respondent commented that this would not be helpful unless adequate laws and repercussions for abusers were also implemented.
When considering the implementation of direct support( e. g. a screening for domestic violence and animal abuse) and whether the implementation of such would be helpful within veterinary practice, 70.8 % of respondents were in favour. However, 16.8 % noted that they would be uncomfortable with this and 7.5 % stated that it would be inappropriate.
Comments in the free-text answer box for this question included that participants would not feel comfortable delving into a client ' s personal life and that they would be frightened they might offer incorrect advice. Some participants stated that direct support would be beneficial, but might not be well received or conducted in practice.
Most of the participants( 93.2 %) supported the implementation of indirect support, such as posters and advertisement of fostering services, within veterinary practices. When considering the practicalities of implementing this support, one respondent suggested that the posters could be displayed in a consulting room so clients can look at them privately. However, some respondents expressed concern that displaying these posters would discourage clients from returning to the practice if they were in an abusive relationship or a perpetrator of abuse.
The final question put forward to the veterinary professionals asked whether the implementation of a‘ code word’, for example, the Ask for Angela scheme [ 20 ], within a veterinary practice would be helpful for identifying and reporting suspected cases of domestic violence and animal abuse. Most participants( 91.3 %) supported this. However, in the free-text box, difficulties were noted, namely that it might put a victim at risk due to the control an abuser holds over their victim( s). Moreover, if the code word was made common information and was said by a victim in front of the perpetrator, the situation could become volatile. Other respondents recognised the challenging aspect of implementing this type of scheme nationwide and noted that adequate protocols would need to be implemented. However, one participant stated:“ I think these schemes are of great support in the places where they have been put in place, so it is likely it could be well received in this environment too. It ' s also fairly easy to put in place and therefore I see no reason why this couldn ' t be a universal scheme.”
Discussion
The results of this study support the hypothesis that veterinary professionals have low efficacy for handling cases of domestic violence and animal abuse. Most participants demonstrated awareness of the link between domestic violence and animal abuse but consistently reported feeling underprepared and lacking in confidence when faced with suspicions or disclosures of abuse. These findings align with previous research showing that, despite high recognition of abuse, many veterinary professionals are uncertain about how to respond and refer cases, and often feel unsupported by training, guidelines or management [ 4, 21 – 24 ].
18 Veterinary Nursing Journal