A Need for Targeted Teaching of Shared Decision-Making as Identified from an Assessment of Client-Centered Communication Skills Training with Companion Animal Veterinarians.

This article focuses on evaluating the impact of a client-centered, skills-based communication training intervention on veterinarians' use of shared decision-making (SDM) in companion animal practice. The study analyzed pre- and post-intervention appointments from nine veterinarians using the Observer OPTION 5 instrument, which measures SDM behaviors, and found no significant increase in SDM scores following the training. Results indicated that SDM was more commonly demonstrated during health problem appointments than preventive care visits. The findings suggest that while client-centered communication skills are foundational, explicit and process-oriented training in SDM—such as the three-talk model involving team talk, option talk, and decision talk—may be necessary to effectively foster SDM behaviors in veterinary medicine.