Data_Sheet_1_Hong Kong veterinarians’ encounters with client-related stress – a qualitative study.pdf

AimsLimited research has explored the stressors experienced by veterinarians in East Asia. Metropolitan cities like Hong Kong may have overlooked factors that significantly contribute to veterinarians’ stress. This paper examines how client-related stressors and contextual factors contribute to the stress levels of Hong Kong-based veterinarians.
MethodsVeterinarians from small domestic animal practices in Hong Kong were recruited using purposive and targeted snowball samplings until thematic saturation was achieved. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with an interpretivist paradigm based on Heidegger’s phenomenological approach.
ResultsA total of 18 participating veterinarians described the expectations of and communication with the animal-health enthusiast (AHE) community, including clients, pet owners, and animal lovers, as their primary source of stress. Discrepant expectations and miscommunication between the AHE and veterinary communities, along with contextual factors, such as convenience in clinic switching, negative online reviews, and the relatively short history of the veterinary profession in the multilingual city, were identified as contributing factors to their stress. Recent socio-political events and the pandemic further intensified societal emotions, leading some clients to project frustrations onto perceived authority figures, including health professionals.
ConclusionThe study highlights that client-related stress extends beyond the health of animal patients, encompassing the expectations of the AHE community, which requires professional-level communication skills to build a mutually respectful three-party relationship. Besides, Hong Kong’s unique contextual and historical factors subtly but chronically impact veterinary practices, which can be easily overlooked. Recognising these influences and how they interact is crucial for collaboration, within and beyond the profession, at the policy level to improve veterinary training and practices.
ImplicationsOur findings highlight the importance of expectation management and improving communication quality to foster healthy relationships among animals, the AHE community, and veterinary professionals. These efforts are believed to alleviate veterinarians’ stress and enhance the well-being of all parties involved. We recommend incorporating effective communication and self-care discussions into the veterinary curriculum and advocating ongoing training for practising veterinarians. At the community level, encouraging open dialogues between animal caregivers and veterinary professionals can help address expectation discrepancies.

研究目的：目前针对东亚地区兽医所面临压力源的相关研究较为匮乏，而像香港这样的大都市中，诸多对兽医压力产生显著影响的因素仍未得到充分关注。本研究旨在探讨与服务对象相关的压力源及各类情境因素，对香港本地兽医的压力水平的影响机制。
研究方法：本研究通过目的性抽样与靶向滚雪球抽样法，招募香港小型伴侣动物诊所的兽医参与，直至达到理论饱和。研究采用半结构化深度访谈法，对访谈内容进行录音、转录、编码，并基于海德格尔现象学视角的解释主义范式，运用反思性主题分析方法开展数据分析。
研究结果：共有18名受访兽医指出，与动物健康爱好者（Animal-Health Enthusiast, AHE）群体——包括服务对象、宠物主人及爱宠人士——的沟通及该群体的期待，是他们压力的主要来源。研究发现，动物健康爱好者群体与兽医群体之间存在的期待分歧与沟通误解，加之诸如诊所转换便利性、负面网络评价，以及这座多语言城市中兽医行业历史相对较短等情境因素，均会加剧兽医的压力。此外，近期的社会政治事件与新冠疫情进一步激化了社会情绪，使得部分服务对象将情绪宣泄指向包括医护人员在内的权威群体。
研究结论：本研究表明，与服务对象相关的兽医压力并非仅源于动物病患的健康问题，还涵盖了动物健康爱好者群体的各类期待，这要求从业者具备专业级别的沟通技巧，以构建动物、动物健康爱好者群体与兽医专业人员三方相互尊重的协作关系。此外，香港独特的情境与历史因素会潜移默化且持续地影响兽医执业活动，这类影响往往容易被忽视。认清这些影响及其相互作用机制，对于行业内外的协作、制定优化兽医培训与执业模式的相关政策而言，均具有重要意义。
研究启示：本研究结果凸显了期待管理与提升沟通质量的重要性，这有助于构建动物、动物健康爱好者群体与兽医专业人员之间的健康互动关系。此类举措能够缓解兽医的工作压力，提升所有相关方的福祉。我们建议将高效沟通与自我关怀相关内容纳入兽医专业课程体系，并倡导为在职兽医提供持续培训。在社区层面，鼓励动物照料者与兽医专业人员开展开放对话，有助于解决双方的期待分歧问题。