The research behind Pause First™

Rowan et al. (2023). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (JVIM)

Diagnostic accuracy · Clinical history

Evaluated the effect of clinical history on the interpretation of canine thoracic radiographs. Diagnostic accuracy increased from 64.4% to 75.2% (P=.002) when veterinary radiologists were provided with pertinent clinical history alongside the images.

What it supports in Pause First™: Relevant history you provide at home can directly affect how clinical findings are interpreted — your observations are not background noise.

Coe et al. (2022). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)

Client communication · Consultation structure

Examined the relationship between structured veterinary communication and client outcomes. Clients in well-structured consultations were approximately 1.4 times more likely to approve full care plans and showed around 15% higher projected spending — suggesting that clearer communication supports better follow-through on care.

What it supports in Pause First™: When the consultation is structured and clear, owners are better able to engage with the plan — preparation on both sides matters.

Radford et al. (2006). Veterinary Record

Consultation structure · History-taking

Explored communication patterns in veterinary consultations, identifying how history-taking and structured questioning shape the quality of information exchanged between owner and clinician.

What it supports in Pause First™: Structured history-taking is a recognised part of effective veterinary consultations — the method reflects this approach from the owner's side.

Shaw et al. (2004). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)

Communication · Owner satisfaction

Investigated communication behaviours in veterinary consultations and their relationship to client satisfaction and information exchange. Found that open-ended questioning and active listening were associated with more complete history-taking.

What it supports in Pause First™: The more clearly owners can share what they've observed, the more productive the consultation becomes for both sides.

McArthur & Fitzgerald (2013). Australian Veterinary Journal

Companion animal practice · Communication

Reviewed communication in companion animal practice, highlighting the role of the clinical history in guiding diagnosis and the importance of owner-provided information in the consultation process.

What it supports in Pause First™: Owner observations are a recognised and essential input in companion animal care — not a formality.

Pun (2020). Veterinary Sciences

Shared decision-making · Owner partnership

Examined shared decision-making in veterinary medicine, exploring how owner involvement in the consultation process affects both the quality of information gathered and the likelihood of treatment compliance.

What it supports in Pause First™: Owners who are prepared and engaged contribute more meaningfully to the clinical conversation — preparation is a form of partnership.