Measuring stress in patients at veterinary practices - a business feasibility study
Authors
Andreasen, Jesper Lohse ; Pedersen, Lasse Dahl
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-06-16
Pages
177
Abstract
This business feasibility study measures how much stress dogs experience during veterinary appointments, conducted in collaboration with Odder veterinary clinic. It also outlines a practical procedure that clinics can use to optimize their infrastructure and reduce patient stress, with the potential to form a viable business model. There is a lack of up-to-date knowledge about patient stress in veterinary practice settings, and the field data collected here suggest the issue is widespread within the practice environment. Methods: Dogs wore a Polar H10 heart-rate monitor for 10–30 minutes, depending on appointment length, and both relaxed and active baselines were recorded for comparison. Results: All dogs showed signs of stress, with higher heart rate and lower heart-rate variability (the natural variation in time between heartbeats) relative to their baselines. Behavioral observations were cross-checked with the sensor data to ensure validity, and a veterinary nurse reviewed and validated the findings.
Denne forretningsmæssige gennemførlighedsundersøgelse måler, hvor meget stress hunde oplever under besøg på dyreklinikker, i samarbejde med Odder veterinary clinic. Undersøgelsen skitserer også en praktisk procedure, som kan hjælpe klinikker med at optimere deres infrastruktur og reducere patientstress, med potentiale til at danne grundlag for en levedygtig forretningsmodel. Der mangler opdateret viden om patientstress i dyreklinikker, og de indsamlede feltdata tyder på, at problemet er udbredt i klinikmiljøet. Metode: Hundene bar et Polar H10 pulsbælte i 10–30 minutter afhængigt af konsultationens længde, og både afslappede og aktive baselinemålinger blev registreret til sammenligning. Resultater: Alle hunde viste tegn på stress med højere puls og lavere hjertefrekvensvariabilitet (den naturlige variation i tiden mellem hjerteslag) i forhold til deres baselines. Adfærdsobservationer blev sammenholdt med måledata for at sikre validiteten, og en veterinærsygeplejerske gennemgik og validerede resultaterne.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords