Veterinarian's dilemma: a study of how Danish small animal practitioners handle financially limited clients

TY - JOUR

T1 - Veterinarian's dilemma

T2 - a study of how Danish small animal practitioners handle financially limited clients

AU - Kondrup, Sara Vincentzen

AU - Anhøj, K. P.

AU - Rødsgaard-Rosenbeck, C.

AU - Lund, Thomas Bøker

AU - Nissen, Merete Holst

AU - Sandøe, Peter

PY - 2016/12/10

Y1 - 2016/12/10

N2 - This study examined the extent to which Danish veterinary practices encounter financially limited clients and how different factors relating to the animal, the client and the veterinarian affect decisions to provide treatment for these clients. 300 small animal practices were invited to participate in an online survey. 195 participated, giving a response rate of 65 per cent. The results show that Danish small animal veterinary practices encounter clients with limited finances regularly: 33.8 per cent of them 3-4 times, 24.6 per cent 5-10 times and 19.5 per cent 1-2 times a month. Only around 9 per cent reported having a written practice policy on handling financially limited clients. Factors affecting decisions to treat include the severity and type of the animal's condition, the medical care needed and the client's expressed emotions. The propensity to treat is significantly higher in female veterinarians and in situations involving unborn animals. The overall conclusion is that small animal veterinary practices often provide treatment to clients who are not able to pay-far beyond what is legally required. This can be considered a major economic and psychological challenge for the practising veterinarians.

AB - This study examined the extent to which Danish veterinary practices encounter financially limited clients and how different factors relating to the animal, the client and the veterinarian affect decisions to provide treatment for these clients. 300 small animal practices were invited to participate in an online survey. 195 participated, giving a response rate of 65 per cent. The results show that Danish small animal veterinary practices encounter clients with limited finances regularly: 33.8 per cent of them 3-4 times, 24.6 per cent 5-10 times and 19.5 per cent 1-2 times a month. Only around 9 per cent reported having a written practice policy on handling financially limited clients. Factors affecting decisions to treat include the severity and type of the animal's condition, the medical care needed and the client's expressed emotions. The propensity to treat is significantly higher in female veterinarians and in situations involving unborn animals. The overall conclusion is that small animal veterinary practices often provide treatment to clients who are not able to pay-far beyond what is legally required. This can be considered a major economic and psychological challenge for the practising veterinarians.

U2 - 10.1136/vr.103725

DO - 10.1136/vr.103725

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27811050

AN - SCOPUS:84994895328

SN - 0042-4900

VL - 179

JO - Veterinary Record

JF - Veterinary Record

M1 - 596

ER -