Veterinary technicians report in a survey how futile veterinary treatments contribute to their moral distress and impact their professional and personal lives.

Abstract

Objective: To document veterinary technicians' (VTs') experiences with medical futility and its subsequent impact on moral distress and attrition from the profession.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a 56-question web-based, confidential and anonymous survey was distributed through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America between January 19 and February 15, 2023.

Results: There were 1,944 responses from approximately 8,500 members (22% response rate). Nearly all respondents (97.8%) reported having encountered futile treatments during their careers, with 94.7% having provided such treatments. Most respondents (83.7%) had been asked or directed to act against their conscience to provide futile treatments to terminally ill patients, with 80.8% having done so. Providing futile treatments resulted in moderate to severe stress in 76.9% of VTs surveyed; respondents reported experiencing negative emotional (96.6%) or physical responses (83.4%) associated with medically futile treatments. Nearly half (48.7%) have considered leaving their position due to moral distress associated with providing futile treatments, and 55.5% claimed to have firsthand knowledge of someone who has left the profession for the same reason.

Conclusions: Encounters with medical futility were a common occurrence among respondents. Furthermore, futile medical treatments caused a significant increase in moral stress for the VTs polled, which may contribute to professional attrition.

Clinical relevance: Targeting ways to mitigate moral distress due to experiences with futility may increase retention and career satisfaction of VTs.