For the research, being conducted by David Mills MRCVS (pictured) and VetSurgeon.org Editor Arlo Guthrie, vets are being asked to complete an eight question survey which asks how things like money, trial by social media, insurance and fear of complaint affect the way they practise.
All answers will treated as strictly confidential and data processed anonymously.
However, those who are happy to share their names will be entered into a draw for three £50 Amazon vouchers.
David said: “All practising vets are aware of the recent noise about high vet fees and the CMA investigation as well as the various competing pressures when advising owners.
"For the first time in the profession, this study will allow vets to have their say on the considerations that owners may not see or be aware of.
"Please take 5 minutes (max) of your time to complete the survey and help us build a better evidence base than the current soup of anecdote and opinion"
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7979966/VetSurgeon-org-Factors-influencing-the-clinical-advice-given-by-vets-to-clients
Shortlink: https://bit.ly/clinicalinfluences
The survey closes on 15th December 2024
PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.
A useful survey, but I feel the questions are somewhat black and white extremes, and using the word 'cheapest' in relation to treatment options is possibly not an appriopriate word. I will usually try the most 'cost effective' treatment if the presenting symptoms/ clinical examination are such that there is a high probability of a correct presumptive diagnosis, but I don't consider it the 'cheapest' option. The 'cheapest' option for a lot of our clients would be to advise them over the phone to starve their pet for 24 hours/ use an effective parasitacide/ rest the pet for a few days depending on the complaint - this will probably lose us 50% of our income though!
Paul Cooper - Yes, they are, we know that, but the instructions ask you to pick the best fit, ie the answer which you instinctively lean more towards. Interesting, re cheapest. What I would say is that whilst the word might not sit comfortably, it is probably the terms in which most clients think about money. Also, when we talk about cheapest, we take it as a given that cheapest is the cheapest option that provides (or is likely to provide) a reasonable solution to the problem. So your last sentence is interesting, because if you think starving the pet for 24 hours or use an effective parasiticide or rest the pet for a few days is likely to offer the solution to the problem then that would be validly cheapest option.
Perhaps I would have prefered the French term 'moins cher' - which does not have the connotation of 'cheap and nasty' often associated with the English 'cheapest'. Then again, maybe I am just a 'grumpy old vet' who graduated before the days of in house analysers, easy access commercial labs, ultrasound scanners, referral centres in every town, etc etc. Those were the days we had to make a thorough clinical examination and develop clinical acumen - not just plug the patient into a machine and wait for a printout of the diagnosis :-D