DESIGN:
Descriptive case-based study SAMPLE POPULATION Stratified random sample of 32 companion animal veterinarians in southern Ontario, 2 undisclosed standardized clients and 2 standardized patients.   

PROCEDURES:
Two separate case scenarios with presentations designed to initiate euthanasia discussions, were presented by 2 different USCs to the study veterinarians. Post-appointment, the veterinarian and USC completed the veterinarian and client perception of client-centeredness questionnaires and statistical agreement was assessed.  

RESULTS:
Significant agreement between veterinarian and USC was achieved in only 1 out of 10 questions for the geriatric canine case (personal and family issues) and 3 out of 10 questions (discussion of respective roles (K = 0.43, p < 0.01), preparedness to make a euthanasia decision (K = 0.42, p < 0.01), personal and family issues for the feline inappropriate urination case. For both cases, the veterinarian and USC agreed that discussion of personal and family issues was missing (canine, K = 0.43, P < 0.01; feline, K = 0.25, P= 0.02).When the USC and veterinarian disagreed, the veterinarians perceived that the client-centeredness components were addressed more thoroughly than was perceived by the USC.   

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
The lack of agreement between USC and veterinarian perceptions of euthanasia discussions may lead to reduced client satisfaction, adherence to veterinarian recommendations, and patient well-being, and increased formal complaints. Formal training of veterinarians in eliciting the client’s perspectives, and assessing lifestyle-social historical data, including the client’s family and social support, is required. 

Authors:
BORDEN NOGEUIRA, Lea¹, ADAMS, Cindy², BONNETT, Brenda³, RIBBLE, Carol⁴, *SHAW, Jane⁵
1. Department of Population Medicine Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CANADA  
2. Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary CSB 101D, 11877- 85th Street NW Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1 CANADA  
3. 504547 Grey Road 1 Georgian Bluffs, Ontario Canada N0H 2T0  
4. Department of Ecosystem & Public Health Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary 3280 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, CANADA
5. Department of Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA