Exploring the Effects of Participation in a Shelter Medicine Externship on Student Knowledge and Self-Confidence

Abstract

With the recognition of shelter medicine as a sub-discipline of veterinary medicine, many veterinary programs are including clinical shelter experiences in their curricula. A concurrent mixed-methods study was designed with the aim to determine the effectiveness of a 4-week clinical shelter medicine program on students’ perception of canine and feline surgical proficiency and shelter medicine knowledge as well as gain information on student attitudes toward shelter medicine and interest in pursuing this career path. Year 4 veterinary students at Western University of Health Sciences who were enrolled in a shelter medicine externship from 2014 to 2016 were invited to complete pre- and post-course online surveys. Of the 168 enrolled students, 77.4% were invited to participate, and 114 completed the survey. There was no statistically significant difference in student veterinary career interest before and after completing the externship. There was an overall increase in student rating of their ability to perform six shelter medicine tasks as well as ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy (OVH/OE) and castration surgeries after completing their externship; all were statistically significant ( p < .001). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of students who were familiar with the Asilomar Accords and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters after completion of their externship ( p < .001). Students largely supported pediatric spay and neuter, stating it was an effective means of population control. Based on the themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis, it appeared most students had an accurate understanding of the term no-kill.

Opinions towards Companion Animals and Their Welfare: A Survey of Croatian Veterinary Students

“…Comparison of the results obtained in the current study with those recorded in our previous study on farm animals [12] reveals similar opinions in Croatian veterinary students; in addition, our students consider the procedures performed on poultry to be more humane as compared with dogs and cats. However, our students consider routine castration of dogs and cats a justifiable surgical procedure, which is consistent with the results of the study conducted by Hedge et al [62].…”

A Qualitative Analysis of Clinical Year Veterinary Student Journal Entries for a Shelter Medicine Rotation

“…Traditionally, universities have focused their shelter medicine educational research on surgical skills gained on rotation. While there is validated benefit in these surgical experiences ( 28 , 31 , 39 ), this study indicates that there are more experiences in shelter medicine education that students find deeply fruitful which warrant further investigation. This is especially evident considering students spend roughly 1/3 of their time on the rotation performing surgery, yet it was the 19th most common mention in our journal entries.…”

“…The body of evidence available assessing the impact of shelter specific and service-learning experiences on students is growing, further supporting its value in filling the gaps present in veterinary curriculums. Research has shown that experiences in shelter medicine can increase perceived self-confidence and preparedness for real-world challenges in the field post-graduation ( 31 ) and increase self-confidence in various shelter medicine themes ( 29 ). These experiences have also been shown to increase student rating of their ability to perform six shelter medicine tasks as well as ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy (OVH/OE) and castration surgeries ( 31 ), and decreased surgery time ( 28 , 38 ) without a significant increase in complication rates ( 39 ).…”

“…Research has shown that experiences in shelter medicine can increase perceived self-confidence and preparedness for real-world challenges in the field post-graduation ( 31 ) and increase self-confidence in various shelter medicine themes ( 29 ). These experiences have also been shown to increase student rating of their ability to perform six shelter medicine tasks as well as ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy (OVH/OE) and castration surgeries ( 31 ), and decreased surgery time ( 28 , 38 ) without a significant increase in complication rates ( 39 ). This finding of decreased surgery time without a significant increase in complication rates is further corroborated by studies in human medicine that have shown no difference between trainees and more-experienced surgeons in postoperative complication rates when careful patient selection and close supervision of trainees is applied ( 40 – 42 ).…”

Identifying Benefits, Challenges, and Options for Improvement of Veterinary Work-Based Learning in Bangladesh

“…5,6 In the health professions, including veterinary medicine, the workplace provides valuable opportunities to connect theory and practice, perform clinical procedures, improve communication skills and develop professional attributes and behaviors. [7][8][9][10] Work-based learning in the context of this study refers to the activities undertaken by veterinary students away from the university with external placement providers,including off-site clinical activities under the supervision of registered veterinarians rather than rotations in a veterinary teaching hospital. Off-site WBLhas been an integral part of veterinary education for many decades.…”