Results
Title

Caring for those who care for our pets: veterinary social workers' perceived role in veterinary medicine.

Authors

Vincent, Aviva; Rautkis, Mary; Maxwell, Laurie; Knudsen, Elizabeth

Abstract

Seventy percent of homes have at least one pet with 83% of people referring to themselves as a pet-parent. Veterinary Social Workers provide clinical support to both owner and veterinary medical teams. This study focused on the exploration of social workers embedded in veterinary medicine settings. The researcher-created survey explored: (1) general characteristics of Veterinary Social Workers and practice settings; (2) Characteristics of client groups; (3) Description of the role and tasks; (4) overall mental health needs of clients; and (5) Veterinary Social Workers response to mental health needs. Suggestions for future research, and best practices for educating social work students/practitioners about animal-human informed practices are offered.

Subjects

STATISTICAL correlation; SOCIAL workers; PETS; OCCUPATIONAL roles; MENTAL health; PSYCHOLOGICAL distress; STATISTICAL sampling; QUESTIONNAIRES; HUMAN-animal relationships; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHI-squared test; PSYCHOEDUCATION; VETERINARY medicine; RESEARCH methodology; RESEARCH; MEDICAL needs assessment; DATA analysis software; PHENOMENOLOGY; WELL-being; LABOR supply

Publication

Social Work in Mental Health, 2024, Vol 22, Issue 6, p788

ISSN

1533-2985

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1080/15332985.2024.2362686