The Project has been created as a response to the needs of professional group of veterinary medical doctors in the field of communication with a client- owner of animal.
The main target of the project is to create the training program and methodology-curriculum for veterinary doctors in the subject of communication with client- owner of the animal (patient). The target will be achieved through project’s activities, transnational project meetings, exchange of knowledge, experiences and good practices in the field of effective and innovative methods of trainings in the subject of communication of veterinary doctors.
The project’s target group are professionally active veterinary doctors. According to the EU and OCED Practicing veterinary doctor is a persons who have completed studies in veterinary medicine at University level (granted by an adequate diploma) and who are licensed to practice.
The situation on the market in the most of EU countries has changed in last 7-10 years, and veterinary doctors faced the problem of changing the attitude of their clients, their needs as well as more demanding attitude. Number of active veterinary doctors in accordance with EUROSTAT data in 2014 in European Union is 242’700 licensed and active veterinary doctors.
This is very specialized group of medical professionals that after graduating studies have to deal with various specific situations at the workplace. The situation on the European market has changed, and veterinary doctors faced the problem of changing the attitude of their clients, their needs as well as more demanding attitude. This may be a serious barrier at work. Communication with a client (owner of animal) is a very specific type of contact. It involves personal communication skills, requires to certain level of empathy but also knowledge how to guide the conversation with the client to receive necessary information to diagnose a problem efficiently, to communicate during animal - patient’s treatment and also to encourage client to continue the treatment till finishing of the whole medical process.
Veterinary doctors in most of EU Member States do not have mandatory high education in the field of communication with client, owner of animal. There are any educational standards or training programs in university veterinary faculties in personal communication at workplace.
The aim of the strategic partnership project is to support exchange of good practices and carry out joint activities, collect necessary knowledge, exchange information, good practices and experiences on communication between veterinary doctor and client- owner of patient in project partners’ countries. On this basis the training and educational needs will be analyzed and estimated. That will be followed by guidance and general training program and methodology in the subject of communication between veterinary doctor and client (owner of animal), which will be the final result of the project.
