Table 2.
Final list of 18 recommendations alongside details of level of consensus reached for each recommendation
| Final recommendation | Number (percentage) of respondents who agreed with this recommendation during the last round in which it was presented for consideration | Consensus reached? |
| To improve consistency across their practice, the practice team should agree on the purpose of their preventative healthcare consultations and what they should include. | 24/26 (92) | Yes |
| The practice team should agree on the role of each member of the team (vet, vet nurse, receptionist and so on) in the practice preventative healthcare strategy. | 21/26 (81) | Yes |
| The practice team should agree how details of the costs of preventative healthcare will be communicated to owners. | 23/26 (88) | Yes |
| The practice team should agree how potential risks associated with preventative medicines will be communicated to owners. | 23/24 (96) | Yes |
| Practices should make clear to owners the benefits of preventative healthcare and medicines to the individual animal, to the pet population and to public health. | 24/26 (92) | Yes |
| Each patient should be at allocated at least 15 min for a preventative healthcare consultation. | 17/24 (71) | No |
| The time allocated for each preventative healthcare consultation should be tailored to the individual patient and adjusted for patient age, species and known pre-existing conditions. | 22/26 (85) | Yes |
| Prior to, or at the start of, each preventative healthcare consultation, the practice should explain to owners what may happen and what topics may be discussed. | 19/22 (86) | Yes |
| Prior to each preventative healthcare consultation, the practice should encourage owners to consider any questions they have about their pet’s health or preventative healthcare. | 23/26 (88) | Yes |
| Prior to each preventative healthcare consultation, the practice should make it clear to owners that the content of the consultation may vary dependent on species, breed, age and health of the patient. | 17/24 (71) | No |
| Prior to each preventative healthcare consultation, the practice should make it clear to owners that they can choose which veterinary surgeon they would like to see. | 19/24 (79) | No |
| At the start of each preventative healthcare consultation, owners should be asked how much they understand about preventative healthcare and medicines. | 16/24 (67) | No |
| During each preventative healthcare consultation, owners should be encouraged to ask any questions they have about their pet’s health or preventative healthcare. | 25/26 (96) | Yes |
| During each preventative healthcare consultation, a full clinical examination should be undertaken by a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse. | 21/24 (88) | Yes |
| As part of each preventative healthcare consultation, patients should be weighed and have their body condition score assessed using a scale agreed by the practice team. | 25/26 (96) | Yes |
| During each preventative healthcare consultation, owners should be made aware of both normal and abnormal findings from a clinical examination. | 25/26 (96) | Yes |
| During each preventative healthcare consultation, it must be ensured that owners understand the rationale behind any recommendations made and alternatives discussed where appropriate. | 25/26 (96) | Yes |
| At the end of a preventative healthcare consultation, a written summary of the findings and a plan for managing the patient’s healthcare needs should be offered to owners. | 18/24 (75) | No |