A longitudinal study of veterinary students and recent graduates: 3. Perceptions of veterinary education

Objective To examine the attitudes and opinions on veterinary education at the beginning and end of the veterinary course, and after graduation.
Design Longitudinal study.
Population Students – 154 in all – who began studying veterinary science at The University of Queensland in 1985 and 1986.
Procedure Questionnaires were completed in the first and fifth year of the course and in the second year after graduation. The data were analysed using the SAS System for Windows.
Results When they entered the course, the students were looking forward more to learning about animals than about basic sciences. At fifth year and after graduation most believed that more emphasis should have been placed on all facets of their education except the basic sciences. It may be difficult to increase this emphasis without placing undue pressure on the students, although more than half of the fifth year students and graduates agreed that there is much in the curriculum that is not needed by a practising veterinarian. Only one-third or less agreed that veterinarians are well equipped to practise veterinary science immediately they graduate. There was no relationship between the level of agreement with this statement, and the academic grades obtained.
Conclusions A majority of veterinary graduates do not believe that they are well equipped to practice immediately they graduate. They believe that more emphasis should have been placed on most facets of their education, but, conversely, that there is much in the curriculum that is not needed by a practising veterinarian.     

中国农村兽医服务下的农户畜禽互助保险分析

新中国农村长期存在一种兽医与农户之间的协议：农户交纳一定费用,在约定的时段内由兽医对农户饲养畜禽免费或部分免费防疫,治病,并对病死畜禽给予若干补偿。这种现象持续了半个世纪,并形成几个高潮。本文对此进行分析,认为这是一种符合中国国情的农民互助型保险。     

Equine Veterinarians' and Health Care Professionals' Concerns Related to the Implementation of the National Equine Identification System

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is an animal tracking database created to contain the spread of contagious foreign animal diseases. Currently, no studies address the perceived support of the equine veterinary field for NAIS. The objectives of this study were to determine equine veterinarians' level of familiarity with NAIS, perceived effectiveness of NAIS, use of equine microchipping, and extent of disaster planning. A 26-question online survey (Zoomerang zPro, MarketTools, Inc., San Francisco, CA) was designed and administered to a sample (n = 139) drawn from the American Association of Equine Practitioners. SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to analyze data. Results showed that only 19.4% of practicing veterinarians were “very familiar” with NAIS. Nearly half (49.3%) of the respondents were neutral regarding their opinion of NAIS. However, 55.6% thought that NAIS would efficiently stop the spread of a contagious animal disease. More than 52% reported that they were currently microchipping horses. After microchipping, 66.7% did not verify premises' identification numbers or record information about the horse, and 80.2% did not complete the paperwork to contact the State Department of Agriculture. Approximately 75.2% of respondents reported that they had experienced a contagious disease outbreak. Most (81.6%) veterinarian respondents did not have a plan to deal with clients' horses during a disaster. There is a need for communication and information for veterinarians regarding NAIS, premises registration, emergency planning guidelines, data to collect after microchipping, and how to provide information to clients.     

壮族兽医起源初探

壮族先民经过数千年的实践和总结,形成了一套独特有效的壮族特色的兽医医疗和医药体系,为民族兽医学做出了不可磨灭的贡献。本文通过对壮族兽医的研究,比较系统地归纳壮兽医的起源、发展,以及壮兽医极具民族特色的病理观、药物观、诊法、疗法。     

多种方法诊疗牛前胃弛缓的体会

前胃弛缓是牛最常见的内科疾病之一,本病虽然死亡率不高,但对牛的健康影响极大。笔者通过临床实践摸索,对该病采取中医、西医及中西医结合等多种方法,先后治愈了多数患牛,取得了很好的治疗效果。现将该病发生的原因、症状及治疗措施介绍如下,望对同行及养殖户有所帮助。     

Current insights in veterinarians’ psychological wellbeing

ABSTRACT

This article outlines some of the key prevalence studies regarding the psychological health of veterinarians, and highlights the reasons for distress, with factors such as workload, financial issues, long working hours, challenging interactions, unexpected outcomes, euthanasia and fear of complaints or making mistakes being commonly cited. During the last decade, many ways to improve veterinarians’ wellbeing have been suggested, including both individual and organisational strategies. However, what appears to be lacking is a body of intervention research to test the effectiveness of these strategies.

This article outlines some of the types of psychological distress which have been reported in veterinarians, and emphasises key issues such as the impact of practitioners’ help-seeking behaviour and moral and ethical dilemmas. Some wellbeing interventions from overseas studies are highlighted, with a focus on strategies that can be adopted by organisations as well as individuals. The review includes several recommendations to improve the psychological wellbeing of veterinarians such as using multi-disciplinary clinician wellbeing models to structure interventions, the possibilities of mindful self-compassion practices, and the regular use of peer support and reflective groups. It concludes that implementation and robust evaluation of wellbeing initiatives in the New Zealand veterinary population are urgently needed.     

Survey of Equine Nutrition: Perceptions and Practices of Veterinarians in Georgia,USA

Equine nutrition plays a critical role in equine health. The veterinarian is an expected major source of equine nutrition information, yet little evidence exists to evaluate this assumed role, particularly from the veterinarian’s perspective. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and confidence levels and practices and perceptions regarding equine nutrition by surveying equine clinicians in Georgia, USA. A sample representative of a cross-section of equine veterinarians participated in the survey: response rate was 20%. Veterinarians reported that although their level of equine nutrition knowledge had improved since graduation, their confidence levels varied when giving nutritional advice on a number of prevalent nutritional-related conditions. Their confidence level in giving nutritional advice on colic was the highest and on hyperkalemic periodic paralysis the lowest. The majority of veterinarians had not taken any recent equine nutrition continuing education, mainly owing to lack of courses available; however, the majority expressed an interest in taking future courses, particularly if offered online. Although the veterinary profession was considered to be an important source of equine nutrition information, almost one-quarter of veterinarians offered no equine nutrition counseling to their clients. More than two-thirds of veterinarians reported having no access to a referral equine nutrition service, but would be likely to use one if it were available. The results of this survey reveal equine nutrition perceptions and practices from an equine clinician perspective. Several areas of concern are highlighted, questioning the quality, responsibility, and provision of equine nutrition in Georgia, USA, and are suggestive of a far more wide-reaching problem, requiring further research.