Development and validation of a contextualised measure of resilience in veterinary practice: the Veterinary Resilience Scale–Personal Resources (VRS–PR)

Abstract

BackgroundThis article reports on the development and validation of a contextualised measure of personal resources for resilience in veterinary practice.MethodsExploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to evaluate data from two surveys of veterinary practitioners.ResultsExploratory factor analysis of the first survey (n=300) revealed six items comprising the Veterinary Resilience Scale–Personal Resources (VRS–PR). These items focused on flexibility, adaptability, optimism, building strengths, enjoying challenges, and maintaining motivation and enthusiasm at work. Structural equation modelling using the second survey (n=744) confirmed the factor structure of the VRS–PR and established convergent validity with an established measure of general resilience, the Brief Resilience Scale. Examination of the mean and standard deviation of the combined survey data enabled scores on the VRS–PR to be provisionally classified into ‘low’, ‘moderate’ and ‘high’ (reported by approximately 13%, 72% and 15% of respondents, respectively). Respondents also reported results spanning ‘low’, ‘moderate’ and ‘high’ classifications for the Brief Resilience Scale (approximately 34%, 57% and 9%, respectively).ConclusionThe VRS–PR may be used to evaluate the extent to which respondents draw upon the personal resources captured in the scale and identify areas for improvement.

Measuring resilience in veterinary practice

“…The authors stress that, unlike the Brief Resilience Scale, the VRS-PR emphasises the resources of lexibility, adaptability and optimism and focuses on strengths instead of limitations. 13 The VRS-PR uses a ive-point Likert scale from one (strongly disagree) to ive (strongly agree), permitting the generation of a numerical score for individual responses. Individuals with a score of 3.31 or less are classiied as having 'low resilience', those with a score between 3.32 and 4.43 are classiied as having 'moderate resilience' and those with a score of 4.44 or more are classiied as having 'high resilience'.…”

“…These results provide a benchmark for comparisons with veterinary populations in other countries. 13 In conclusion, the VRS-PR is an easy to use survey tool that will allow any vet to generate their own score to self-assess their resilience. The question set uses positive language and might be better received, and potentially less stigmatising, within a veterinary practice or educational setting than the Brief Resilience Scale.…”

“…Of over 1000 vets surveyed by Matthew and colleagues, the majority of whom were graduates of Australian veterinary schools, approximately 13 per cent were classified as having ‘low resilience’,15 per cent were classified as having ‘high resilience’ and the remainder were classified as having ‘moderate resilience’. These results provide a benchmark for comparisons with veterinary populations in other countries 13 …”

“…In a study summarised on page 489 of this issue of Vet Record , 13 Matthew and colleagues report the development of the first veterinary‐specific resilience measurement tool. The authors have considerable experience in the research domain of stress and resilience in educational and professional settings, and they have brought this experience to bear to establish a measurement for resilience that encompasses those specific resources and strategies that vets in practice may draw on in times of adversity.…”

“…The result is a simple set of six validated question items, which Matthew and colleagues have named the Veterinary Resilience Scale‐ Personal Resources (VRS‐PR). The authors stress that, unlike the Brief Resilience Scale, the VRS–PR emphasises the resources of flexibility, adaptability and optimism and focuses on strengths instead of limitations 13 …”