Veterinary Students Acknowledge the Importance of Competent Communication to Enhance Client Adherence to Antimicrobial Recommendations

Adherence to antimicrobial recommendations varies and is influenced by client-veterinarian communication, making adequate training related to communication and antimicrobial stewardship, especially important for veterinary students. Prior research suggests that veterinary medical students underestimate clients' antimicrobial knowledge and adherence to instructions, as well as veterinarians' communication competence. These perceptions could impact future interactions with clients, including recommendations for treatment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of client knowledge and adherence. Eleven focus groups were conducted with 33 veterinary students across all years of the curriculum to learn more about their perceptions of the efficacy of veterinary communication related to antibiotics and client adherence to instructions for antibiotic use. Results from this research show that students acknowledge the importance of communication to adherence, and this is especially important when engaging clients in discussion of antibiotics. More specifically, analysis of the transcripts revealed five main themes: the importance of client education and health literacy, navigating client expectations, barriers and enablers to client adherence, navigating generational differences among colleagues and clients, and the importance and impact of role modeling in the clinical setting. Results of this research have implications for training the next generation of veterinarians to confidently communicate about antibiotics, enhance client adherence, and increase the likelihood of positive patient outcomes.