Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium
ABSTRACT: Well-developed clinical communication is crucial for dairy practitioners in providing effective herd health and production management (HHPM) advisory services, as they have potential to enhance farmer satisfaction and adherence to veterinary advice. However, there is limited knowledge rega...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225001377 |
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| author | Linda Dorrestein Caroline Ritter Ellen de Jong Jannet de Jonge Jolanda Jansen Sarne De Vliegher Geert Vertenten Herman W. Barkema |
| author_facet | Linda Dorrestein Caroline Ritter Ellen de Jong Jannet de Jonge Jolanda Jansen Sarne De Vliegher Geert Vertenten Herman W. Barkema |
| author_sort | Linda Dorrestein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Well-developed clinical communication is crucial for dairy practitioners in providing effective herd health and production management (HHPM) advisory services, as they have potential to enhance farmer satisfaction and adherence to veterinary advice. However, there is limited knowledge regarding specific communication skills veterinarians use during HHPM visits. Understanding veterinarians' communication is essential for developing targeted educational interventions to enhance veterinarian-farmer interactions during HHPM visits. The objective of the study was, therefore, to investigate veterinarians' communication during HHPM visits on Flemish dairy farms. Dairy veterinarians audio-recorded HHPM visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium. Composite communication processes were assessed using the Calgary-Cambridge Guide (CCG), and global scores and specific behavior counts were assessed with a modified Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code (MITI). Twenty-seven participating veterinarians recorded 127 visits with 120 unique dairy farmers. The CCG communication processes “History taking,” “Presenting information,” and “Safety net and follow-up” were most prevalent. Veterinarians with ≤10 years practice experience provided the farmer with a “Safety net and a follow-up” more often than veterinarians with >10 years of experience. Other CCG processes such as “Agenda setting” and “Needs determination” were often lacking. However, veterinarians who had previously participated in communication skills training determined the needs of the farmer more often than participants who had not. Veterinarians who conducted ≥15 HHPM visits per month more fully performed “History taking” and “Creating a plan” than veterinarians with <15 HHPM visits per month. Participants displayed inconsistent efforts to incorporate “Partnership” and “Empathy.” In modified MITI coded audio segments of 20 min, on average, veterinarians gave information 12 times, made a persuasive statement 3 times, asked 3 open questions, and 6 closed questions. This study indicated areas for improvement in dairy veterinarians' communication and highlighted the need for ongoing education and research in this area to enhance veterinary practice and animal health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54d22ed0d40846429fc20e5d78ec714b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-54d22ed0d40846429fc20e5d78ec714b2025-08-20T03:13:11ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022025-06-0110866009602410.3168/jds.2024-25738Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, BelgiumLinda Dorrestein0Caroline Ritter1Ellen de Jong2Jannet de Jonge3Jolanda Jansen4Sarne De Vliegher5Geert Vertenten6Herman W. Barkema7Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4Z6; Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands 3584 CL; Corresponding authorDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4Z6Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 1092 GCSt Anna Advies, Beuningen, the Netherlands 6641 KDM-Team and Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium 9820MSD Animal Health, Boxmeer, the Netherlands 5831 ANFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4Z6ABSTRACT: Well-developed clinical communication is crucial for dairy practitioners in providing effective herd health and production management (HHPM) advisory services, as they have potential to enhance farmer satisfaction and adherence to veterinary advice. However, there is limited knowledge regarding specific communication skills veterinarians use during HHPM visits. Understanding veterinarians' communication is essential for developing targeted educational interventions to enhance veterinarian-farmer interactions during HHPM visits. The objective of the study was, therefore, to investigate veterinarians' communication during HHPM visits on Flemish dairy farms. Dairy veterinarians audio-recorded HHPM visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium. Composite communication processes were assessed using the Calgary-Cambridge Guide (CCG), and global scores and specific behavior counts were assessed with a modified Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code (MITI). Twenty-seven participating veterinarians recorded 127 visits with 120 unique dairy farmers. The CCG communication processes “History taking,” “Presenting information,” and “Safety net and follow-up” were most prevalent. Veterinarians with ≤10 years practice experience provided the farmer with a “Safety net and a follow-up” more often than veterinarians with >10 years of experience. Other CCG processes such as “Agenda setting” and “Needs determination” were often lacking. However, veterinarians who had previously participated in communication skills training determined the needs of the farmer more often than participants who had not. Veterinarians who conducted ≥15 HHPM visits per month more fully performed “History taking” and “Creating a plan” than veterinarians with <15 HHPM visits per month. Participants displayed inconsistent efforts to incorporate “Partnership” and “Empathy.” In modified MITI coded audio segments of 20 min, on average, veterinarians gave information 12 times, made a persuasive statement 3 times, asked 3 open questions, and 6 closed questions. This study indicated areas for improvement in dairy veterinarians' communication and highlighted the need for ongoing education and research in this area to enhance veterinary practice and animal health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225001377clinical communicationherd health consultancyveterinarian-farmer interactionsveterinarian-client relationship |
| spellingShingle | Linda Dorrestein Caroline Ritter Ellen de Jong Jannet de Jonge Jolanda Jansen Sarne De Vliegher Geert Vertenten Herman W. Barkema Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium Journal of Dairy Science clinical communication herd health consultancy veterinarian-farmer interactions veterinarian-client relationship |
| title | Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium |
| title_full | Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium |
| title_fullStr | Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium |
| title_short | Farmer-veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium |
| title_sort | farmer veterinarian communication during herd health visits on dairy farms in flanders belgium |
| topic | clinical communication herd health consultancy veterinarian-farmer interactions veterinarian-client relationship |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030225001377 |
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