Compliance Study in Spain, Part I: What We Learnt from Asking 1.200 Pet Owners (Based on the AVEPA-Hill’s 2006 Compliance Study)

The Spanish Small Animal Veterinary Association (AVEPA) and Hill’s Pet Nutrition joined efforts in 2006 to conduct a major research initiative in order to gain a better understanding about the key issues affecting the relationship between petowners and veterinarians, and their compliance with health recommendations. In total, more than 1,200 surveys were conducted with Spanish pet owning households and more than 3,000 patient records coming from 55 Spanish veterinary practices were screened. The research design paralleled the 2004 AAHA-Hill’s Compliance Study, in order to benefit from the learning of that pioneer initiative and to allow for possible inter-country comparisons as well. This lecture’s objective is to present the highlights of the research, and to provide some interpretation and insights of interest to the small animal veterinary profession. [...]