The Talking Physical Exam: a communication tool for engaging clients during the companion animal physical exam

Erin Phillips Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

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Jason B. Coe Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

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Shauna Blois Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

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Elizabeth Stone Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.01.0016
Volume/Issue:
Online Early
Received:
12 Jan 2025
|
Accepted:
05 Feb 2025
|
Online Publication Date:
26 Feb 2025
Open access
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To provide a video tutorial on the use of the Talking Physical Exam (TPE) in clinical practice.

ANIMALS

Any dog or cat receiving a physical examination in the presence of a client.

METHODS

The TPE consists of the veterinary professional verbally describing what is being examined on a patient during a companion animal physical examination and relaying normal and abnormal findings to veterinary clients.

RESULTS

The TPE is a communication tool for supporting client engagement and enhancing client understanding during the companion animal physical examination.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The TPE is a practical tool that can assist veterinary professionals with engaging clients and has the potential to increase the value of the companion animal physical examination for veterinary clients in clinical practice.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To provide a video tutorial on the use of the Talking Physical Exam (TPE) in clinical practice.

ANIMALS

Any dog or cat receiving a physical examination in the presence of a client.

METHODS

The TPE consists of the veterinary professional verbally describing what is being examined on a patient during a companion animal physical examination and relaying normal and abnormal findings to veterinary clients.

RESULTS

The TPE is a communication tool for supporting client engagement and enhancing client understanding during the companion animal physical examination.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The TPE is a practical tool that can assist veterinary professionals with engaging clients and has the potential to increase the value of the companion animal physical examination for veterinary clients in clinical practice.

Keywords: Talking Physical Exam; companion animal physical examination; communication tool; clinical practice; veterinary clients

Acknowledgments

None reported.

Disclosures

Dr. Coe currently holds the VCA Canada Chair in Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College and regularly consults for and receives research funding and honoraria from various veterinary organizations and commercial companies. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

No AI technologies were used in the composition of this video or abstract.

Funding

The authors have nothing to disclose.

References

  • 1.

    Partners for Healthy Pets. The opportunity: pet owners don’t always hear what we think we tell them (and how to fix that). Accessed December 18, 2024. https://www.partnersforhealthypets.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/PHP_TheOpportunity_WhitePaper_2018.pdf

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    Volk JO, Felsted KE, Thomas JG, Siren CW. Executive summary of the Bayer veterinary care usage study. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;238(10):1275-1282. doi:10.2460/javma.238.10.1275

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  • 3.

    Silverman J, Kurtz S, Draper J. Skills for Communicating with Patients. CRC Press; 2013.

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    da Costa JC, Coe JB, Blois SL, Stone EA. Veterinarians’ use of the Talking Physical Exam as a communication tool. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022;260(12):1-8. doi:10.2460/javma.22.01.0048

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Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Date:
26 Feb 2025
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