Table 5.
Factor loadings based on principal component analysis (PCA) performed on clients’ trauma-informed care experiences during the veterinary visit followed by descriptive statistics of subscales derived from the factors (N = 274).
| Factor Loadings Following Rotation | Factor 1. Transparent and Client Centered Communication |
Factor 2. Client Supports and Strengths |
Factor 3. Emotional Safety and Empowerment |
Factor 4. Physical Safety and Comfort |
Factor 5 Informed Consent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff responded inappropriately to my nonverbal communication (e.g., crying) b | 0.853 | 0.087 | 0.053 | 0.013 | 0.013 |
| Staff treated me in a way that reminded me of a past negative experience where I felt disempowered or upset b | 0.832 | 0.042 | 0.002 | 0.049 | −0.050 |
| Staff did not listen to me with genuine interest and did not adequately pay attention to my concerns b | 0.767 | 0.048 | 0.029 | −0.168 | −0.060 |
| Staff did not communicate openly and failed to provide all relevant information about my pet’s medical issues b | 0.757 | −0.059 | −0.091 | 0.009 | 0.061 |
| Staff did not adequately involve me in decisions surrounding my pet’s care b | 0.756 | −0.055 | 0.004 | 0.013 | −0.113 |
| Staff did not clearly outline what treatment option would require from me b | 0.719 | −0.068 | −0.130 | −0.089 | 0.104 |
| Staff appeared judgmental when I expressed my feelings or concerns b | 0.655 | 0.156 | −0.111 | −0.008 | −0.133 |
| Staff were not respectful of my unique circumstances (e.g., cultural identity, sexuality) b | 0.606 | 0.079 | −0.135 | −0.077 | 0.055 |
| Staff spoke to me in a patronizing manner, using negative language and criticism b | 0.579 | 0.219 | −0.033 | −0.167 | −0.169 |
| Staff did not adequately help me identify my challenges and difficulties that may get in the way of treatment b | 0.551 | −0.399 | −0.020 | 0.005 | 0.036 |
| Staff provided me with information about other service providers in my community that could help me and my pet (e.g., support groups, counseling services or social workers, pet rehabilitation services, pet care services, fear free groomers) | 0.131 | 0.732 | 0.023 | 0.101 | 0.133 |
| Staff asked me about my cultural beliefs in relation to care for my pet and respected any cultural preferences for treatment | 0.270 | 0.671 | 0.151 | 0.027 | 0.014 |
| Staff did not ask me about any negative/stressful experiences at a veterinary clinic in the past b | 0.113 | −0.667 | 0.216 | −0.117 | 0.037 |
| Staff inquired about others who may be helpful to include in my pet’s care (e.g., family member) | −0.011 | 0.649 | 0.124 | −0.166 | 0.147 |
| Staff helped me identify my strengths and skills that may facilitate management of my pet’s care | 0.045 | 0.611 | 0.320 | 0.041 | 0.089 |
| Staff found out what was most pressing for me in a kind and caring manner | −0.123 | −0.091 | 0.784 | −0.140 | −0.095 |
| Staff recognized and equalized power imbalances by understanding that I was relying on them for help | 0.086 | 0.108 | 0.653 | 0.124 | 0.047 |
| Staff provided me with choices that fit my life circumstances for treatment preferences | −0.086 | 0.055 | 0.606 | 0.026 | 0.041 |
| Staff empowered me by acknowledging that I know best about my pet and my situation | −0.109 | 0.164 | 0.601 | 0.021 | 0.050 |
| Staff made me feel welcome by being warm and friendly (e.g., using a welcoming tone of voice) | −0.081 | −0.111 | 0.556 | 0.388 | 0.085 |
| Staff explained everything in a way that I could understand by using plain language without jargon | −0.236 | −0.141 | 0.487 | 0.116 | 0.227 |
| Staff made me feel emotionally safe by providing reassurances and validating my experiences | −0.065 | 0.031 | 0.454 | 0.205 | 0.194 |
| Staff acknowledged and took responsibility for any miscommunication | 0.008 | 0.216 | 0.403 | −0.149 | .277 |
| Staff responded in a caring manner if I disclosed any past stressful experiences a | −0.343 | 0.284 | 0.398 | −0.062 | −0.029 |
| The physical space inside the clinic was comfortable for me and my pet (e.g., comfortable chairs, air conditioning) | 0.132 | 0.057 | 0.355 | 0.739 | 0.007 |
| The physical space inside the clinic felt unsafe for me and my pet (e.g., no ability to separate nervous or agitated pets from other animals) b | 0.308 | −0.113 | 0.185 | −0.686 | −0.022 |
| The physical space outside the clinic felt unsafe for me and my pet (e.g., inadequate parking, poor lighting, unsafe access) b | 0.404 | −0.077 | 0.177 | −0.587 | 0.074 |
| Staff used statements (e.g., it is your decision, it is not for me to decide) that clearly explained my role in making decisions for my pet | 0.061 | −0.034 | −0.151 | −0.037 | 0.830 |
| Staff checked for my understanding of information provided before proceeding | −0.101 | 0.101 | 0.168 | 0.135 | 0.668 |
| Staff sought my permission prior to performing any medical activities (e.g., touching my pet or any medical examinations) | −0.194 | 0.217 | 0.128 | −0.081 | 0.486 |
| Descriptive Statistics for Subscales | |||||
| Median | 4.50 | 3.00 | 3.67 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Mean | 4.39 | 2.96 | 3.83 | 4.21 | 3.65 |
| Standard deviation | 0.63 | 0.89 | 0.58 | 0.72 | 0.76 |
| Possible range | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 |
| Actual range | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1.88–5 | 1.33–5 | 1–5 |
| Cronbach’s alpha | 0.909 | 0.775 | 0.826 | 0.729 | 0.593 |
Note: a Item not included in subscales. The cut-off for factor loadings set at 0.40. b Items reverse-scored before computing subscales.