Young Veterinarians Research Articles

When doc becomes doc and mom

As the proportion of women entering the veterinary workforce continues to grow, young veterinarians are demonstrating an increasing need for guidance in navigating pregnancy and motherhood while maintaining their role as a veterinarian. As a relatively new issue for many rural practices, the profession lacks a consistent and distinct precedent for maternity leave and what can be expected during pregnancy. One veterinarian’s experience cannot begin to cover what can be expected for ev­eryone, but can provide tips and insight onto navigating these concerns for other new graduates and practice owners. Follow­ing the obvious challenges of pregnancy and then maternity leave comes the more difficult task of juggling on-call, daycare schedules and sick kids with a busy and unpredictable veteri­nary schedule. Finding a balance is not always easy but can be incredibly rewarding with the right mindset.

Contracts and negotiations

Understanding the concepts of negotiations and contracts is es­sential to enter the veterinary industry out of veterinary school. The skills of negotiations lead to better offers and benefits, more extended employment, and meeting expectations for young veterinarians. The paper discussion focuses on the nego­tiation characteristics and process leading to agreed letters of intent and contracts.

Are They Thinking Differently? The Perceptions and Differences in Medical Disputes between Veterinarians and Clients.

Medical disputes in veterinary practices are widespread; yet, a limited amount of research has been conducted to investigate the factors contributing to medical disputes. This study examined veterinarians' and clients' perceptions regarding risk factors and possible solutions to medical disputes. A total of 245 respondents from Taiwan, including 125 veterinarians and 120 clients, completed an electronic self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire in 2022. The questionnaire covered six dimensions: medical skills, complaint management, the attitudes of stakeholders during interactions, medical expenses, clients' perspectives, and communication modes. The results highlighted significant differences in the perceptions of risk factors for inducing medical disputes and possible solutions between clients and veterinarians in veterinary practice. First, young veterinarians and clients perceived medical skills as the highest risk factor for inducing medical disputes, while experienced veterinarians disagreed (p < 0.001). In addition, veterinarians with medical dispute experience identified stakeholders' attitudes during interactions as the top contributing factor. Second, regarding possible solutions, all veterinarians preferred offering clients cost estimates and cultivating empathy and compassion towards them. On the other hand, clients underscored the importance of obtaining informed consent for treatments and expenses and suggested that veterinarians should supply comprehensive written information to facilitate this process. This study underlies the importance of understanding stakeholders' perceptions to mitigate medical disputes and advocates for improved communication education and training for young veterinarians. These findings provide valuable insights for veterinarians and clients, contributing to preventing and managing medical disputes in veterinary practices.

Perceptions of Veterinarians and Veterinary Students on What Risk Factors Constitute Medical Disputes and Comparisons between 2014 and 2022.

This study compared the risk perceptions of medical disputes among veterinarians and veterinary students in Taiwan between 2014 and 2022. Online validity-tested questionnaires were used to collect data, with 106 (73 veterinarians and 33 students) and 157 (126 veterinarians and 31 students) surveys collected in 2014 and 2022, respectively. Respondents would be asked to rate their perceptions on how likely each risk factor constitutes a medical dispute according to their past experiences on a five-point Likert scale from 1 to 5: "Very unlikely, unlikely, neutral, likely, very likely." The results showed that overall risk perceptions increased significantly in 2022 compared to 2014, with the top risk factors being attitudes during interactions and complaint management among experienced veterinarians. In contrast, students considered medical skills and clients' perspectives as the top two risk factors, with complaints management ranking as the least significant factor. The findings suggest that effective communication and complaint management are crucial in preventing medical disputes, highlighting the importance of developing these skills in young veterinarians and veterinary students to reduce medical disputes. The study also recommends increasing practical experiences of medical disputes and complaint management in veterinary education to bridge the gap between the perceptions of experienced veterinarians and students.

Resident and intern salaries: can tracking our progress help us understand our future?

Salaries apportioned to veterinary interns and residents have been historically low. The impact of this financial strain on the lives and career choices of young veterinarians has recently been evaluated. Subsequent effects of low remuneration are not limited to simple personal finances; rather, the implications may be more far-reaching, including playing a role in mental and physical wellness, affecting diversity in various segments of the profession, influencing career paths, creating barriers to educational and professional opportunities, and shaping decisions regarding family. We evaluated progress made in salaries offered for positions listed in the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program between the previous analysis in 2021 and at present for the 2023 match. In addition to considering financial improvements, we discuss potential drivers contributing to change, including recent documentation of living wage requirements relative to salaries, labor market forces, and the increasingly competitive salaries offered through other career paths. We also consider implications for increasing intern and resident compensation; besides well-being, diversity, career path, and family factors, we discuss the potential relationship of postgraduate educational programs to hospital revenues and implications for how educational program structure may be affected. While compensation is far from the only element that drives career selection or satisfaction, understanding the effects of a fiscal overhaul to this educational experience can play a critical role in solving components of the workforce issues in our profession.

Особенности воспроизводства квалифицированных кадров агропродовольственного сектора экономики и механизмы их адаптации на сельских территориях

The article presents the results of the analysis of the influence of various socio-economic factors on the processes of reproduction of qualified personnel and the adaptation of young specialists in rural areas of the Middle Urals. It has been established that young specialists consider insufficient practical (practice-oriented) training in an agricultural educational institution to be the most important factor preventing full adaptation (unlike in previous years). They are also very concerned (according to the survey data) about the lack of mentorship in most of the economic entities of the agro-industrial complex. Faster than other young professionals, veterinarians and zooengineers adapt to the new production environment (average adaptation time is 1.5 years). It is recommended to carry out career guidance work on the stages of the reproductive process (preparation in kindergarten - at school - at college - at the university - arrival at the place of work and adaptation to production processes - advanced training - retraining if necessary).

Dairy consulting 101

“Consulting” is a highly sought-after area of expertise for many young veterinarians that is often ill-described and lacking di­rection. There are many different avenues to take in becoming a consultant, none of which are more correct than any other. A mindset shift combined with solid mentorship and a willing­ness to listen may be all it takes to adding consultative services to your clinic’s repertoire. A successful consultant will be ex­tremely passionate in their chosen area of expertise, will have a well-designed learning process, an understanding of the cost and return on investment, and will have developed several rough drafts along the way. This particular veterinarian will discuss in detail her process for developing a herd metrics con­sultative service for the clients in her practice area.

Mass Depopulation of Swine during COVID-19: An Exploration of Swine Veterinarians' Perspectives.

Simple SummaryThis study was designed to better understand the mental health of U.S. swine veterinarians who were involved in the mass depopulation events related to COVID-19. A total of 25 swine veterinarians, participants from a larger quantitative study, volunteered to be interviewed about their experiences related to the COVID-19 mass depopulation event. The themes that arose from these interviews included: (1) the need to be better prepared for crisis events; (2) lack of public understanding; (3) moral distress; (4) empathy for others, especially young veterinarians; (5) sources of support; (6) pride, honor and gratitude; and (7) an overarching theme of emotional distancing and detachment—concerns external to one’s own mental health. Based on these results, we recommend additional training and supportive services for those who might be involved in future depopulation efforts.This qualitative study (n = 25) was created to better understand the mental health of U.S. swine veterinarians who were involved in the mass depopulation events related to COVID-19. A total of 25 swine veterinarians, participants in a previous larger quantitative study, volunteered to be interviewed about their experiences related to the COVID-19 mass depopulation event. Themes that emerged from these interviews included: (1) the need to be better prepared for crisis events; (2) lack of public understanding; (3) moral distress; (4) empathy for others, especially young veterinarians; (5) sources of support; (6) pride, honor and gratitude; and (7) an overarching theme of emotional distancing and detachment—concerns external to one’s own mental health. Based on our results, we recommend additional training and supportive services for those who might be involved in future depopulation efforts. Additionally, we suggest that the veterinary profession prioritize public education campaigns to help the public better understand the need for depopulation.

Digital opportunities to connect and complain - the use of Facebook in small animal practice.

BackgroundSocial media is increasingly used in small animal practice, enabling veterinarians to connect with clients and promote their business online. It can also be used by clients to quickly distribute complaints via online communities.Material/methodsUsing a questionnaire study we investigated Austrian, Danish and UK veterinarians’ attitudes towards Facebook, the contents of clients’ online complaints and how they were handled by veterinarians (N = 648).ResultsIn Denmark and the UK, around 90% of practices had a Facebook page, in contrast to 40% of Austrian practices. Most Danish and UK veterinarians agreed that the use of Facebook was relevant and expected by clients. Agreement was lower among Austrian veterinarians, probably reflecting the lower uptake of social media there. In particular, younger veterinarians and those who actively used Facebook for the practice, could see benefits. In all three countries, we found that clients most frequently complained about treatment costs. Most veterinarians preferred to actively deal with clients’ complaints, either replying online or discussing them directly.ConclusionsWe recommend future research focusing on veterinarians’ personal use of social media and on clients’ use of and attitudes towards social media in the veterinary context.

Are They Ready? Trials, Tribulations, and Professional Skills Vital for New Veterinary Graduate Success

Stress and burnout levels are high among young veterinarians with the transition to practice being particularly challenging. This qualitative study aimed to capture and document the new graduate veterinary experience within the United States and which professional skills are most important for success during the transition to practice. The researchers sought to better understand this challenging transition period and provide insight for veterinary educators who are tasked with preparing new veterinary graduates for day 1 practice readiness. To gain a deeper understanding of the new graduate experience, a focus group was conducted with six veterinarians who recently graduated from four different U.S. veterinary colleges. Several themes arose regarding their experiences in the transition to practice including setbacks and adaptations, self-sufficiency and self-doubt, changing clientele and ethical dilemmas, leadership and conflict, and good vs. bad mentorship. Self-care, conflict management, and client communication were perceived as the most important professional skills for success in the transition to practice. New graduate veterinarians reported that they were least prepared for working with clients with financial constraints and managing conflict. Drawing from this qualitative data, the researchers propose several topics that could be incorporated into professional skills curriculum to further enhance day 1 preparedness of new veterinary graduates to promote well-being in the transition to practice.

Veterinary communities

Veterinary surgeons with dyslexia have set up an online discussion group to provide advice and support for colleagues in practice and at vet school with neurological differences. Fiona Nouri is an expert in this field having run student welfare offices at the Royal Veterinary College and other leading educational institutions. She told John Bonner how young veterinarians can be helped to deal with their difficulties in reading and processing text and why this investment of time and effort can reap huge dividends.

Causes of stress and conflict in the veterinary professional workplace \u2013 a perspective from Poland

BackgroundThe problems of burnout and the moral and ethical distress resulting from various kinds of conflict have been raised in the veterinary profession. However, their sources and inter-relationships have not been thoroughly recognized mainly due to the multidimensional nature of human interactions related to animal breeding, farming, welfare, prophylaxis and therapy. For the first time in Poland, an analysis of conflict and conflict-causing factors in veterinary practice has been conducted with the participation of veterinarians of various specialties and the owners of different animal species.ResultsConflict in the course of work is most often experienced by young veterinarians. The problems associated with communication between veterinarians and animal owners and unforeseen random situations are the general causes of conflict. Approved Veterinarians were identified by animal owners as the most common professional group associated with the conflict experienced .ConclusionsThere is a lack of professional preparation by veterinary surgeons to cope with unpredicted stressful situations at work, resulting from an absence of appropriate educational input in this area. The animal owners do not understand the role and duties of Approved Veterinarians.

Practical application of techniques for performing C-sections in beef cows

As a newly graduated veterinarian, the idea of a calf delivery via cesarean section is daunting. As a young veterinarian I would avoid c-sections so readily I would be exhausted by the time the procedure was the last remaining option. Mentorship and functional tricks can help avoid this misguided fear in new veterinarians.

Animal Welfare Worldwide, the Opinion of Practicing Veterinarians

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the animal welfare issues considered the most important by companion animal veterinarians worldwide. For this purpose, a global survey of several potential animal welfare issues was distributed via SurveyMonkey® in multiple languages. The distribution of survey responses differed by region. The main animal welfare concern reported worldwide was obesity, although there were differences across regions, possibly due to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Anthropomorphism (attributing human qualities or characteristics to an animal) was an issue in western countries but less so in Asia, Africa, and Oceania. There were significant differences between Asia and Europe, Africa, and Oceania in the importance and prevalence of convenience euthanasia. There were also age and sex differences in participant responses, with older veterinarians reporting fewer welfare problems than younger veterinarians, and female veterinarians reporting more welfare issues than their male counterparts.

The impact of practical experience on theoretical knowledge at different cognitive levels.

Although theoretical training of veterinary students is uncomplicated even for larger groups, practical training remains a challenge. Much has been said about the value of practical training in curriculum design. Yet, the impact of practical training on theoretical knowledge needs further research. A cohort of 89 students with very limited clinical practical experience completed an assessment at the end of their theoretical training in small ruminants. The scores obtained by the students were compared with those obtained by a group of 35 veterinarians who volunteered to participate in the study. In addition to comparing the scores between students and practitioners, the cognitive level of each of the questions was considered. Overall, veterinarians achieved higher test scores than did the students. The veterinarians outperformed the students in all cognitive levels except for ‘applying’ type questions where there was no difference. Different levels of experience, namely young veterinarians (n = 11), established veterinarians (n = 13) and veterinarians approaching retirement (n = 11), were evaluated against the revised Bloom’s cognitive levels. When modelling congress attendance frequency, years’ experience, proportion of time spent with ruminants and revised Bloom’s levels, congress attendance was not a significant variable, and thus, only the other three variables remained. This investigation found that practical experience has a positive effect on theoretical knowledge. The type of practical experience and where such practical experience is included in a curriculum need further research. Working for a number of years in a specific discipline will provide the best support for theoretical knowledge.

Virtual mentorship and selecting an externship

Mentorship is increasingly important due to changing demands on young veterinarians, particularly those in mixed or cattle practice. Many young practitioners rely on a mentor within their practice to help guide them through many day-today challenges. With multiple ways to communicate on social media or other technology platforms, virtual mentorship is a way to supplement other mentorship a young practitioner may receive from colleagues at their practice. Performing externships while in veterinary school are critical to immediate success in large animal practice. Externships serve a valuable purpose by allowing students to gain clinical skills and non-traditional service knowledge, and to expand their general knowledge base. Students are able to utilize multiple funding sources and methods of networking with practices to gain the best experiences.

Offering nutrition and ration balancing as a service

Offering nutrition and ration balancing services can be an excellent way to increase revenue at a veterinary practice, as well be a solution for the changing role of the consulting veterinarian. Today’s dairy producers demand a consultant-based veterinary service which contrasts greatly with the veterinary service of the past. Offering nutrition services is also a great way for young veterinarians to become good at troubleshooting feed-related disease processes on dairy farms.

Impact of dealing with bereaved clients on the psychological wellbeing of veterinarians.

Research has identified that members of the veterinary profession are at high risk of occupational stress, burnout, poor psychological wellbeing and an elevated rate of suicide. Although scholarly interest in veterinarians has increased in recent years, relatively few studies have specifically examined the emotional work in veterinary interactions and what effect dealing with companion animal owners' grief has on the wellbeing of veterinarians. The purpose of this study was to determine if dealing with bereaved clients affected the psychological wellbeing of veterinarians. The concept of compassion fatigue was explored, including whether veterinarians believed that their training had equipped them for communicating with grieving clients. Veterinary surgeons registered in South Australia in 2015 were invited to complete an online survey, with 105 participants responding. Many participants, particularly female and younger veterinarians, were experiencing mild to severe psychological distress and nearly half of the sample was experiencing high to very high levels of compassion fatigue. No participants reported seeking psychological or other professional mental health support and the majority had not referred a grieving client to a psychologist or other mental health professional. A significant proportion of veterinarians felt their own mental health was affected by dealing with clients grieving the loss of a companion animal. The findings are discussed in terms of increasing the wellbeing of veterinarians through improved curriculum training and workplace health promotion, particularly considering the high suicide rate reported for the profession.

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in veterinarians in Finland: Older age, living in the countryside, tasting beef during cooking and not doing small animal practice associated with seropositivity.

Practising veterinary medicine has an inherent risk of exposure to zoonotic agents, including the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We screened sera of veterinarians authorized to work in Finland for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against T.gondii with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay, and evaluated potential risk factors for T.gondii seropositivity from extensive questionnaire data with almost 1,300 quantitative variables. We used a causal diagram approach to address the complexity of the life cycle of the parasite and its numerous possible transmission routes, and built a multivariable binomial logistic regression model to identify risk factors that are particularly relevant for veterinarians. The samples and questionnaire data were collected in 2009. Altogether, 294 veterinarians, almost 15% of the Finnish veterinary profession, were included in the study. The median age was 39years, and the majority, 86%, were women. Altogether, 43 (14.6%; 95% confidence interval: 10.9-19.0) of the 294 veterinarians tested seropositive for T.gondii. According to the final model, veterinarians who were at least 40years old had 2.4 times higher odds to be seropositive than younger veterinarians; veterinarians who lived in the countryside had 4.0 times higher odds to be seropositive than veterinarians who lived in towns; female veterinarians who tasted beef during cooking had 2.6 times higher odds to be seropositive than male veterinarians who did not taste beef during cooking; and veterinarians who did not do small animal practice had 2.3 times higher odds to be seropositive than those who did. The results illustrate the numerous transmission routes of T.gondii.

Women in the workplace

With unprecedented numbers of young veterinarians wanting to leave the profession and fears that Brexit will cut off the supply of EU-trained vets to replace them, there have been claims that UK practice is facing a manpower crisis. John Bonner reports.