Dr. Christopher Biancaniello, DVM ’24, decodes veterinary discharge instructions to help pets heal better.
When your pet has a procedure, all you want to do is take them home, cuddle, and help them recover. But when it comes time to give them medicine, care for their wound, or manage an unexpected symptom, will you know what to do? When you refer to the pages of discharge instructions from your veterinarian, will they make sense to you?
Better explanations for how to care for a pet after surgery may reduce post-operative complications and contribute to a smooth recovery. That’s what Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine graduate Dr. Christopher Biancaniello, DVM ’24, found during his research as a student.
He presented his research and findings in 2023 at the Veterinary Education Symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland. This year, “Readability of Postoperative Discharge Instructions Is Associated with Complication Rate in Companion Animals Undergoing Sterilisation” was published by VetRecord.
More than 260 RUSVM students participate in research projects each year.
Tips for Veterinarians Writing Discharge Instructions
Dr. Biancaniello has some simple advice for veterinarians that has been extrapolated from human medical guidelines to make sure their discharge instructions are easy for pet owners to follow.
- Keep it short and organized: Research from human medical guidelines found that most people do not read all of the paperwork they’re given. Using bullet points or bold text helps people key in on important information.
- Put important information on top: People tend to read what is directly in front of them. Many times, discharge instructions start with a summary of the procedure. That pushes vital instructions further down or even to subsequent pages.
- It’s OK to use medical terms: But make sure you follow them with explanations in plain language. The ideal reading level for discharge instructions is sixth grade.
- Give the owners time to understand before they leave: That includes looking over the instructions with the owners and making sure they understand the instructions they are going home with for their pet.
Conducting Research at RUSVM
In addition to its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, RUSVM offers MSc by Research and PhD by Research degrees along with a range of opportunities for DVM students to conduct research. Students can serve as research assistants, volunteers, or take the lead on studies like Dr. Biancaniello.
Research Opportunities at Ross Vet
RUSVM faculty members participate in research projects totaling more than $1.9 million from grant awarding bodies, industry, corporates and governments, and during the period of 2014-2024, have authorized more than 1,200 research and scientific papers.
RUSVM faculty members also contributed to Dr. Biancaniello’s research: Dr. Kerry Rolph, Dr. Sarah Cavanaugh, Dr. Priti Karnik, Dr. Andrea Peda, and Dr. Ryan Cavanaugh.
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