Promoting Human Behaviour Change in a First Opinion Veterinary Clinic to improve Home Oral Hygiene in Pets Utilising the 5A Consult Model

The welfare of companion animals is predicated by caregiver management and decision making, and so the veterinary consult is a key intervention point to improve animal welfare. As with many health-related behaviours, instigating long-term changes is a challenge in the veterinary profession, with knowledge-deficit models of human behaviour change proving ineffective at promoting positive welfare for companion animals. Dental care is one of the most prevalent health disorders in the UK, with many pets receiving suboptimal Home Oral Hygiene (HOH) care. This study implemented a Dental Care clinic in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Small Animal General Practice and recruited 61 caregivers to a retention based study looking at changes to HOH. The Dental Clinic followed the 5As consult model, adapted for veterinary use, to promote clinically relevant HOH behavioural changes. Caregivers were surveyed prior to the clinic consult, after the final follow-up consult, and at a six month retention date to explore their HOH. Retention was a challenge in the project, with only 39 caregivers attending the clinic, 21 (54%) responding to the End of Clinic survey and 13 (33%) responding to the six month post survey. HOH methods were rated on a 9 point scale, and in the End of Clinic Survey, HOH score had improved by 2.62 points (t student = 2.77, p = .01, g Hedges = 0.58, 95% CI[0.13,1.02]), however, the study was underpowered to detect significance at the Retention stage (FFisher(1.64, 19.63) = 3.28, p = .07, ω^2 p = 0.08, 95%CI[0.00, 1.00]). We discuss the applicability of the 5As model in veterinary behaviour change, and implications for practice.