@article{stevens_kedrowicz_2018, title={Evaluation of Fourth-Year Veterinary Students' Client Communication Skills: Recommendations for Scaffolded Instruction and Practice}, volume={45}, ISSN={0748-321X 1943-7218}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0816-129r1}, DOI={10.3138/jvme.0816-129r1}, abstractNote={ Effective client communication is important for success in veterinary practice. The purpose of this project was to describe one approach to communication training and explore fourth-year veterinary students' communication skills through an evaluation of their interactions with clients during a general practice rotation. Two raters coded 20 random videotaped interactions simultaneously to assess students' communication, including their ability to initiate the session, incorporate open-ended questions, listen reflectively, express empathy, incorporate appropriate nonverbal communication, and attend to organization and sequencing. We provide baseline data that will guide future instruction in client communication. Results showed that students' communication skills require development. Half of the students sampled excelled at open-ended inquiry (n=10), and 40% (n=8) excelled at nonverbal communication. Students needed improvement on greeting clients by name and introducing themselves and their role (n=15), reflective listening (n=18), empathy (n=17), and organization and sequencing (n=18). These findings suggest that more focused instruction and practice is necessary in maintaining an organized structure, reflective listening, and empathy to create a relationship-centered approach to care. }, number={1}, journal={Journal of Veterinary Medical Education}, publisher={University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress)}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Kedrowicz, April A.}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={85–90} }
 @article{bishop_cooney_cox_downing_mitchener_shanan_soares_stevens_wynn_2016, title={2016 AAHA/IAAHPC End-of-Life Care Guidelines}, volume={52}, ISSN={["1547-3317"]}, DOI={10.5326/jaaha-ms-6637}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTEnd-of-life (EOL) care and decisionmaking embody the critical final stage in a pet's life and are as important and meaningful as the sum of the clinical care provided for all prior life stages. EOL care should focus on maximizing patient comfort and minimizing suffering while providing a collaborative and supportive partnership with the caregiver client. Timely, empathetic, and nonjudgmental communication is the hallmark of effective client support. Veterinarians should not allow an EOL patient to succumb to a natural death without considering the option of euthanasia and ensuring that other measures to alleviate discomfort and distress are in place. Animal hospice care addresses the patient's unique emotional and social needs as well as the physical needs traditionally treated in clinical practice. An EOL treatment plan should consist of client education; evaluating the caregiver's needs and goals for the pet; and a collaborative, personalized, written treatment plan involving the clinical staff and client. Primary care practices should have a dedicated team to implement palliative and hospice care for EOL patients. How the healthcare team responds to a client's grief after the loss of a pet can be a key factor in the client's continued loyalty to the practice. Referral to professional grief-support counseling can be a helpful option in this regard.}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION}, author={Bishop, Gail and Cooney, Kathleen and Cox, Shea and Downing, Robin and Mitchener, Kathy and Shanan, Amir and Soares, Nancy and Stevens, Brenda and Wynn, Tammy}, year={2016}, pages={341–356} }
 @article{stevens_frantz_orlando_griffith_harden_gruen_sherman_2016, title={Efficacy of a single dose of trazodone hydrochloride given to cats prior to veterinary visits to reduce signs of transport- and examination-related anxiety}, volume={249}, ISSN={0003-1488}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.249.2.202}, DOI={10.2460/javma.249.2.202}, abstractNote={Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of trazodone for reducing anxiety in cats during transport to a veterinary hospital and facilitating handling during veterinary examination.
DESIGN Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study.
ANIMALS 10 healthy client-owned cats (2 to 12 years of age) with a history of anxiety during transport or veterinary examination.
PROCEDURES Each cat was randomly assigned to first receive trazodone hydrochloride (50 mg) or a placebo PO. The assigned treatment was administered, and each cat was placed in a carrier and transported by car to a veterinary clinic, where it received a structured veterinary examination. Owners scored their cat's signs of anxiety before, during, and after transport and examination. The veterinarian also assessed signs of anxiety during examination. After a 1- to 3-week washout period, each cat received the opposite treatment and the protocol was repeated.
RESULTS Compared with placebo, trazodone resulted in a significant improvement in the cats’ signs of anxiety during transport. Veterinarian and owner scores for ease of handling during veterinary examination also improved with trazodone versus the placebo. No significant differences were identified between treatments in heart rate or other physiologic variables. The most common adverse event related to trazodone administration was signs of sleepiness.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Oral administration of a single dose of trazodone to cats prior to a veterinary visit resulted in fewer signs of transport- and examination-related anxiety than did a placebo and was generally well tolerated by most cats. Use of trazodone in this manner may promote veterinary visits and, consequently, enhance cat welfare.}, number={2}, journal={Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association}, publisher={American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Frantz, Eva and Orlando, Jillian M. and Griffith, Emily and Harden, Lyndy and Gruen, Margaret E. and Sherman, Barbara L.}, year={2016}, month={Jul}, pages={202–207} }
 @misc{stevens_gruen_2015, title={Response to Letter to the Editor "LSU-SVM Shelter Medicine Program"}, volume={42}, ISSN={["1943-7218"]}, DOI={10.3138/jvme.0615-095}, abstractNote={We thank the editors of JVME for contacting us regarding our article, ‘‘Training Veterinary Students in Shelter Medicine: A Service-Learning Community Classroom Technique,’’ originally published online in 2013. Members of the faculty from Louisiana State University (LSU) questioned our statement that we ‘‘believe this program to be unique in the field of shelter-medicine clinical rotations.’’ The issue seems to be one of semantics. We are certainly aware of programs at LSU and other veterinary colleges that focus on shelter medicine and are very glad that such excellent programs exist. It is our understanding that these colleges, including LSU, use a full-service mobile hospital for these rotations. Our intent with this article was to outline a program that would allow colleges without a mobile hospital to see the potential for developing useful programs in shelter medicine that benefit the students as well as the shelters. Our program used a Chevy Suburban fitted with a vet box for travel and service to the outlying shelters—hence, our comment on ‘‘true field service’’ as taken from our large animal counterparts. One of our challenges was that workspace was often makeshift in the shelter itself, and our solution allowed for flexibility and forward-thinking from the students, faculty, and shelter staff. We certainly did not mean to imply that other colleges are not doing fantastic and inspiring work with shelters, and we thank the members at LSU for their letter highlighting the work being done there. We can all work together to raise awareness of the many ways that this important topic can be taught, and to provide students with first-hand experiences. We thank LSU for their interest and continued care of unwanted and abandoned animals.}, number={4}, journal={JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EDUCATION}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Gruen, Margaret E.}, year={2015}, pages={285–285} }
 @article{stevens_montgomery_phillips_wester_jennings_2014, title={Pathology in Practice}, volume={245}, ISSN={["1943-569X"]}, DOI={10.2460/javma.245.1.57}, abstractNote={An 11-year-old 13.5-kg (29.7-lb) castrated male Beagle was evaluated at the General Practice at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine because of a 1-month history of excessive panting. Clinical and Gross FindingsOn initial evaluation, the dog was panting.Abdominal palpation elicited signs of pain and revealed an approximately 8 X 4-cm mass within the left, caudoventral aspect of the abdomen.Abnormalities revealed by a CBC and serum biochemical analysis were minimal and considered unremarkable.Three-view abdominal radiography revealed many soft tissue nodules within the abdominal fat.}, number={1}, journal={JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Montgomery, Stephanie A. and Phillips, Kathryn L. and Wester, Maggie W. and Jennings, Samuel H.}, year={2014}, month={Jul}, pages={57–59} }
 @article{stevens_gruen_2014, title={Training Veterinary Students in Shelter Medicine: A Service-Learning Community-Classroom Technique}, volume={41}, ISSN={["1943-7218"]}, DOI={10.3138/jvme.0813-105r}, abstractNote={ Shelter medicine is a rapidly developing field of great importance, and shelters themselves provide abundant training opportunities for veterinary medical students. Students trained in shelter medicine have opportunities to practice zoonotic and species-specific infectious disease control, behavioral evaluation and management, primary care, animal welfare, ethics, and public policy issues. A range of sheltering systems now exists, from brick-and-mortar facilities to networks of foster homes with no centralized facility. Exposure to a single shelter setting may not allow students to understand the full range of sheltering systems that exist; a community-classroom approach introduces students to a diverse array of sheltering systems while providing practical experience. This article presents the details and results of a series of 2-week elective clinical rotations with a focus on field and service learning in animal shelters. The overall aim was to provide opportunities that familiarized students with sheltering systems and delivered primary-care training. Other priorities included increasing awareness of public health concerns and equipping students to evaluate shelters on design, operating protocols, infectious disease control, animal enrichment, and community outreach. Students were required to participate in rounds and complete a project that addressed a need recognized by them during the rotation. This article includes costs associated with the rotation, a blueprint for how the rotation was carried out at our institution, and details of shelters visited and animals treated, including a breakdown of treatments provided. Also discussed are the student projects and student feedback on this valuable clinical experience. }, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EDUCATION}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Gruen, Margaret E.}, year={2014}, pages={83–89} }
 @article{stevens_posner_jones_lascelles_2013, title={Comparison of the effect of intratesticular lidocaine/bupivacaine vs. saline placebo on pain scores and incision site reactions in dogs undergoing routine castration}, volume={196}, ISSN={1090-0233}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.11.019}, DOI={10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.11.019}, abstractNote={Post-operative pain scores and incision site reactions were compared in healthy dogs undergoing routine castration at a county animal shelter and assigned to two treatment groups, namely: (1) lidocaine/bupivacaine (1mg/kg lidocaine+1mg/kg bupivacaine mixture; n=17), or (2) placebo (0.9% saline; n=16), administered via intratesticular injection. Dogs were injected with an equivalent volume of solution based on bodyweight. Premedication, induction and anesthetic maintenance protocols were identical in all animals. Pain scores were assessed at 15min, 60min, 120min and 24h post-recovery from anesthesia. Surgical site evaluation based on swelling and bruising was evaluated at 24h. The addition of lidocaine/bupivacaine did not impact pain scores compared to the saline placebo (P>0.05). Incision site reactions were statistically similar between the two groups.}, number={3}, journal={The Veterinary Journal}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Stevens, B.J. and Posner, L.P. and Jones, C.A. and Lascelles, B.D.}, year={2013}, month={Jun}, pages={499–503} }
 @article{stevens_linder_2012, title={Pathology in Practice}, volume={241}, ISSN={["1943-569X"]}, DOI={10.2460/javma.241.5.567}, abstractNote={A 7-month-old sexually intact male domestic longhair cat was evaluated because of unusual skin lesions affecting both ears.The cat had been relinquished by its owner to a county animal shelter.No medical history was available. Clinical and Gross FindingsOn physical examination, the cat was in good body condition with abnormalities limited to both external ear canals and pinnae.The cat had locally extensive crusted and hyperkeratotic proliferative plaques that filled the external and vertical ear canals and extended onto 35% to 50% of the proximal concave portions of both pinnae.Le-}, number={5}, journal={JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION}, author={Stevens, Brenda J. and Linder, Keith E.}, year={2012}, month={Sep}, pages={567–569} }
 @article{stevens_linder_2012, title={Proliferative and Necrotizing Otitis Externa in a Cat}, volume={241}, number={5}, journal={Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association}, author={Stevens, B.J. and Linder, K.}, year={2012}, month={Sep}, pages={567–569} }