Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Education, Veterinary Communication and Animal Behavior".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 33278

Special Issue Editors

Institute for Animal Health, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: neuroanatomy; neuropathology; neurodegenerative diseases; cetaceans; dolphins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute for Animal Health, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: veterinary pathology; immunopathology; mycoplasma; goat diseases; one-health; marine, maritime, environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Veterinarians are valued and respected professional figures. However, fundamental changes to the education and recognition of veterinarians are required. Scenarios such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic have generated new challenges, and adaptation has been essential to the field of veterinary medicine and science. In particular, in line with the global collaborative response of the health and scientific communities, the crucial importance of the “One Health” approach has been highlighted. This concept, according to the World Health Organisation, is dedicated to the design and implementation of programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors can communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. The One Health approach is critical to addressing health threats arising where animals, humans and the environment intersect. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of the One Health program, and this adaptive and responsive approach should be implemented in veterinary medical education. Veterinary students are expected not only to bear responsibilities for animals, but also for public health. These fundamental changes in the roles, responsibilities, and the spectrum of activities required of veterinary professionals require equal changes, improvements, and adaptation to veterinary science and medical education training programs. These modifications may include, for instance, increasing the participation of veterinary professionals in multidisciplinary human medicine teaching, training and research teams (i.e., human anatomy, physiology or biology, among others). Significantly, recent scientific and technological breakthroughs (i.e., RNA-based vaccines, improved molecular diagnostic tools (PCRs), innovative ICTs applied to health assessment and research, etc.) have been seen to influence current teaching and training programs in key, modern and innovative veterinary colleges and universities. Ultimately, the main goal of these centres is to provide high-quality and cutting-edge knowledge and skills to their students, which is essential for the development of their future careers. Technical advances can—and should—influence teaching and learning in different veterinary fields.

This Special Issue will give an overview of and define areas of professional focus, addressing the anticipated needs, challenges, and requirements of new veterinary students. We call on researchers to contribute their recent findings. Specific focuses might include, but not are limited to, the following areas:

- One Health and veterinarian involvement in public health;

- New methodologies in veterinary teaching;

- New fields for veterinary practice;

- Teaching and learning evidence-based clinical skills;

- Effect of the pandemic on veterinary teaching and learning;

- Effect of the pandemic on the role of veterinarians;

- New perspectives on the professional future of veterinarians.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Simona Sacchini
Prof. Dr. Ayoze Castro-Alonso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • veterinary education
  • veterinary teaching
  • veterinary learning
  • teaching procedures
  • One Health
  • public health
  • veterinary medicine
  • veterinary pathology
  • veterinary specialties
  • species-specialized veterinary practice.

Published Papers (13 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 851 KiB  
Article
Nurturing a Respectful Connection: Exploring the Relationship between University Educators and Students in a Spanish Veterinary Faculty
by Ana S. Ramírez, José Raduan Jaber, Rubén S. Rosales, Magnolia Conde-Felipe, Francisco Rodríguez, Juan Alberto Corbera, Alejandro Suárez-Pérez, Mario Encinoso and Ana Muniesa
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(9), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10090538 - 24 Aug 2023
Viewed by 968
Abstract
The respect of the teacher for the student is essential for effective teaching from the perspective of the students, even in comparison to the knowledge and communication capacity of the teacher. Consequently, the optimal development of this characteristic fosters a more effective and [...] Read more.
The respect of the teacher for the student is essential for effective teaching from the perspective of the students, even in comparison to the knowledge and communication capacity of the teacher. Consequently, the optimal development of this characteristic fosters a more effective and efficient student–teacher relationship. We initiated this research following a conversation with a group of university students, who expressed their discontent regarding the lack of respect shown towards them by some teachers. Therefore, we conducted a descriptive study using online surveys, focusing on the central axis in the teacher–student relationship. The results highlighted the need for faculty members to analyze and question their attitudes towards their students. This paper presents initial results of the data collected at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 5064 KiB  
Article
Using Machine Learning in Veterinary Medical Education: An Introduction for Veterinary Medicine Educators
by Sarah E. Hooper, Kent G. Hecker and Elpida Artemiou
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(9), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10090537 - 23 Aug 2023
Viewed by 2189
Abstract
Machine learning (ML) offers potential opportunities to enhance the learning, teaching, and assessments within veterinary medical education including but not limited to assisting with admissions processes as well as student progress evaluations. The purpose of this primer is to assist veterinary educators in [...] Read more.
Machine learning (ML) offers potential opportunities to enhance the learning, teaching, and assessments within veterinary medical education including but not limited to assisting with admissions processes as well as student progress evaluations. The purpose of this primer is to assist veterinary educators in appraising and potentially adopting these rapid upcoming advances in data science and technology. In the first section, we introduce ML concepts and highlight similarities/differences between ML and classical statistics. In the second section, we provide a step-by-step worked example using simulated veterinary student data to answer a hypothesis-driven question. Python syntax with explanations is provided within the text to create a random forest ML prediction model, a model composed of decision trees with each decision tree being composed of nodes and leaves. Within each step of the model creation, specific considerations such as how to manage incomplete student records are highlighted when applying ML algorithms within the veterinary education field. The results from the simulated data demonstrate how decisions by the veterinary educator during ML model creation may impact the most important features contributing to the model. These results highlight the need for the veterinary educator to be fully transparent during the creation of ML models and future research is needed to establish guidelines for handling data not missing at random in medical education, and preferred methods for model evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3710 KiB  
Article
The Evaluation of a High-Fidelity Simulation Model and Video Instruction Used to Teach Canine Dental Skills to Pre-Clinical Veterinary Students
by James Fairs, Anne Conan, Kathleen Yvorchuk-St. Jean, Wade Gingerich, Nicole Abramo, Diane Stahl, Carly Walters and Elpida Artemiou
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(8), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10080526 - 16 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on the teaching of small-animal dentistry to veterinary students in order to address the recognized gap between dental skill training and the expectations of employers regarding the competencies of new graduates in this field. [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on the teaching of small-animal dentistry to veterinary students in order to address the recognized gap between dental skill training and the expectations of employers regarding the competencies of new graduates in this field. In this study, third-year veterinary students were trained in three canine dental core skills using either a high-fidelity model (Group A) or video instruction (Group B). An objective structured clinical examination was used to assess skill acquisition and questionnaires were distributed in order to assess student confidence and perceptions related to small-animal dentistry practice and related skills before and after the training. All results were compared between the two groups. Group A outperformed Group B in skill acquisition (p < 0.001) and there was greater improvement in skill confidence for Group A than Group B (p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in perceptions related to small-animal dentistry between the two groups after the training (p ≥ 0.1). Group A rated their training experience more highly than Group B (p < 0.001). Although dental skill acquisition shows greater improvement when training is provided by models rather than video instruction, a blended approach to teaching dental skills is likely to be the best approach to optimizing dental skill acquisition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 294 KiB  
Article
Are They Thinking Differently? The Perceptions and Differences in Medical Disputes between Veterinarians and Clients
by Zih-Fang Chen, Yi-Hsin Elsa Hsu, Jih-Jong Lee and Chung-Hsi Chou
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050367 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1349
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
14 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
Veterinary Education and Training on Non-Traditional Companion Animals, Exotic, Zoo, and Wild Animals: Concepts Review and Challenging Perspective on Zoological Medicine
by Jaime Espinosa García-San Román, Óscar Quesada-Canales, Manuel Arbelo Hernández, Soraya Déniz Suárez and Ayoze Castro-Alonso
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050357 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
The role of veterinarians is becoming more significant and necessary to support the welfare and health not only of non-traditional companion animals and wildlife animals, but also of humans and the environment. The importance of the One Health/One World concept and its social [...] Read more.
The role of veterinarians is becoming more significant and necessary to support the welfare and health not only of non-traditional companion animals and wildlife animals, but also of humans and the environment. The importance of the One Health/One World concept and its social impact is increasing significantly, accompanied by the notoriety of new emerging and reemerging zoonoses. This paper aims to review and anchor the main concepts and professional applications of zoological medicine, which has been extensively discussed and adapted in recent decades. In addition, we analyse the main social demands, training, and educational needs and the perception of veterinary professionals relating to this specialised veterinary discipline. Our final goal is to reinforce the use of the term zoological medicine and contribute to highlight the need to foster and underpin specific educational policies and programs on this matter in the veterinary curricula. Zoological medicine should be the appropriate and agreed-upon term in the academic language concerning the veterinary medicine of pets, wild, or zoo species, excluding traditional domestic animals, and integrating the principles of ecology and conservation, applied to both natural and artificial environments. This discipline has suffered an intense evolution covering applications in private clinics, zoos, bioparks, and wildlife. All this implies current and future challenges for the veterinary profession that can only be addressed with greater and better attention from multiple perspectives, especially the education and training of professionals to improve and specialise in their professional scope of services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 272 KiB  
Article
Perceptions of Veterinarians and Veterinary Students on What Risk Factors Constitute Medical Disputes and Comparisons between 2014 and 2022
by Zih-Fang Chen, Yi-Hsin Elsa Hsu, Jih-Jong Lee and Chung-Hsi Chou
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(3), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030200 - 06 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
12 pages, 2418 KiB  
Article
The Use of Simulation Models and Student-Owned Animals for Teaching Clinical Examination Procedures in Veterinary Medicine
by Ricardo Marcos, Sónia Macedo, Macamen de Vega and Pablo Payo-Puente
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(3), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030193 - 04 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2001
Abstract
Clinical examination procedures (CEPs) are cornerstone clinical skills for veterinary practitioners, being taught in all veterinary faculties. CEPs include innocuous procedures that are well tolerated by animals as well as more distressful and less tolerated ones. In a classical approach, institutional animals are [...] Read more.
Clinical examination procedures (CEPs) are cornerstone clinical skills for veterinary practitioners, being taught in all veterinary faculties. CEPs include innocuous procedures that are well tolerated by animals as well as more distressful and less tolerated ones. In a classical approach, institutional animals are used to teach and practice CEPs. Two hundred and thirty-one undergraduate students from four consecutive years were assigned to two groups that used institutional animals only (AO) or a combination of students’ owned animals and simulation models (model–animal, MA) to teach and practice CEPs. This latter comprised stuffed teddy dogs, eye and ear models made of molding silicone, as well as skin models. The learning outcome of each system was compared through questionnaires (throughout classes and at the end of course), grades, and pass rates in objectively structured clinical examinations. Most veterinary students had their own animals, being easy to have a dog per group of two students in class. All the students’ owned animals adapted well to this environment. The interest in the practical activities with the simulation models was comparable to that exhibited in the classical AO system. Students reported to learn more with the MA system than with the AO, while the interest on the subjects and the relevance were appraised similarly in both systems. No differences existed in the final grades and pass rates. The MA system was effective for learning CEPs. Beyond animal welfare advantages, this system increased the out-of-school training and had financial saving benefits, being a valuable option for the teaching and training of CEPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 720 KiB  
Article
“What If It Was Your Dog?” Resource Shortages and Decision-Making in Veterinary Medicine—A Vignette Study with German Veterinary Students
by Kirsten Persson, Wiebke-Rebekka Gerdts, Sonja Hartnack and Peter Kunzmann
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020161 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2173
Abstract
The here presented vignette study was part of a survey on ethical judgement skills among advanced veterinary students at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. The vignette describes a fictitious dilemma in veterinary practice due to medication supply shortages. First, the students [...] Read more.
The here presented vignette study was part of a survey on ethical judgement skills among advanced veterinary students at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. The vignette describes a fictitious dilemma in veterinary practice due to medication supply shortages. First, the students should make an ethically justified decision: who of the two patients in the waiting room gets the last dosage of a medication. Important factors were the animal patients’ characteristics (age, state of health, life expectancy), the patient owners’ wellbeing, and context-related criteria. Second, the students were asked for decisional changes if one of the patients was their own dog. They reacted in four different ways: (1) for a professional, this should not make a difference; (2) most likely being “egoistic” and preferring their own dog; (3) giving the medication to the other dog; and (4) avoiding a decision. Finally, the students judged a list of possible solutions to the dilemma on a 9-point scale. They preferred patient-related criteria to patient-owner-related criteria in this task. In the overall results, it became obvious that no “gold standard” or guidelines for situations of medication shortages exist, yet, which presents an important subject for future research and veterinary ethics teaching. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 473 KiB  
Article
Environment in Veterinary Education
by María del Pino Palacios-Díaz and Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020146 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1677
Abstract
Environmental concerns have become priority issues over the last third of the 20th century. The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) has gone from rules which supported the farming sector after years of famine to being oriented towards looking at environmental aspects. Therefore, it [...] Read more.
Environmental concerns have become priority issues over the last third of the 20th century. The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) has gone from rules which supported the farming sector after years of famine to being oriented towards looking at environmental aspects. Therefore, it has evolved not only to react to a changing market and consumer demands but also to respond to climate change and the need for sustainable development. Environmental education is an important pillar for responding and adapting to climate change. The CAP policies oriented towards optimizing the use of natural resources, residue management, antimicrobial use reduction, the decrease of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and animal welfare need linked educational programs. In this context, veterinarians, being experts in animal production, welfare, and food safety and its technology and public health under the One Health concept, are scarcely informed in environmental aspects, which would help them to understand and face the consequences of climate change in the rural world. Future veterinarians must be able to quantify the effects of animal production on the environment, optimizing the use of natural resources, minimizing GHG emissions, and managing the risks associated with climate change by using different analysis tools that need to be included in their learning programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
The Current State of Veterinary Toxicology Education at AAVMC Member Veterinary Schools
by David C. Dorman, Robert H. Poppenga and Regina M. Schoenfeld-Tacher
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(12), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120652 - 22 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1412
Abstract
This study assessed the depth, breadth, and perception of toxicology education in curricula at Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) member veterinary schools. An online questionnaire was sent twice to all 54 AAVMC members and sent once to a veterinary toxicology list [...] Read more.
This study assessed the depth, breadth, and perception of toxicology education in curricula at Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) member veterinary schools. An online questionnaire was sent twice to all 54 AAVMC members and sent once to a veterinary toxicology list serve. The survey covered areas related to instructor demographics, the depth and extent of toxicology taught, and the respondent’s perceptions of their student’s ability to perform entrustable professional activities (EPA). Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Our survey resulted in a 44% response rate. All responding schools included toxicology in their curriculum, and it was a required course in 23 programs. Contact hours in stand-alone veterinary toxicology courses ranged from 14 to 45 h. Most respondents indicated that the current time allotted for toxicology was inadequate, despite indicating that most of their students could perform most EPAs autonomously. One exception related to the ability of students to analyze toxicology data. We found small variations in teaching methods and curriculum content. The results of our study can assist veterinary schools in evaluating their curricula to better prepare new graduates for the management of toxicology issues they may face in their veterinary careers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)

Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 831 KiB  
Review
Therapeutic Use of Bee Venom and Potential Applications in Veterinary Medicine
by Roberto Bava, Fabio Castagna, Vincenzo Musella, Carmine Lupia, Ernesto Palma and Domenico Britti
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(2), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020119 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7077
Abstract
Apitherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that consists of the treatment of diseases through products collected, processed, and secreted by bees, specifically pollen, propolis, honey, royal jelly, and bee venom. In traditional medicine, the virtues of honey and propolis have been well-known [...] Read more.
Apitherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that consists of the treatment of diseases through products collected, processed, and secreted by bees, specifically pollen, propolis, honey, royal jelly, and bee venom. In traditional medicine, the virtues of honey and propolis have been well-known for centuries. The same, however, cannot be said for venom. The use of bee venom is particularly relevant for many therapeutic aspects. In recent decades, scientific studies have confirmed and enabled us to understand its properties. Bee venom has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, central nervous system inhibiting, radioprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, among others. Numerous studies have often been summarised in reviews of the scientific literature that have focused on the results obtained with mouse models and their subsequent transposition to the human patient. In contrast, few reviews of scientific work on the use of bee venom in veterinary medicine exist. This review aims to take stock of the research achievements in this particular discipline, with a view to a recapitulation and stabilisation in the different research fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 379 KiB  
Review
Current Perspectives on the Challenges of Implementing Assistance Dogs in Human Mental Health Care
by Sandra Foltin and Lisa Maria Glenk
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10010062 - 15 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4238
Abstract
The prevalence of mental health disorders, driven by current global crises, is notably high. During the past decades, the popularity of dogs assisting humans with a wide spectrum of mental health disorders has significantly increased. Notwithstanding these dogs’ doubtless value, research on their [...] Read more.
The prevalence of mental health disorders, driven by current global crises, is notably high. During the past decades, the popularity of dogs assisting humans with a wide spectrum of mental health disorders has significantly increased. Notwithstanding these dogs’ doubtless value, research on their legal status, certification processes, training and management practices, as well as their welfare status, has been scarce. This scoping review highlights that in contrast to other assistance dogs such as guide dogs, there exists no consistent terminology to mark dogs that assist humans with impaired mental health. Legal authorities monitoring the accreditation process, training and tracking of mental health supporting dogs are broadly lacking, with only few exceptions. This review emphasizes the need to address several topics in the promotion of progress in legal and welfare issues related to assistance dogs as well as emotional support dogs for humans with a mental health disorder. The current body of knowledge was assessed in three different areas of focus: (1) the legal dimension including definitions and certification processes; (2) the dimension of performed tasks; and (3) the dog welfare dimension including aspects of the relationship with the handler and risks associated with children recipients. Considering the challenges associated with a mental health diagnosis, collaborations of dog provider organizations and health care professionals would be desirable to continuously assess the efficiency of the human-dog dyad regarding their overall compatibility, general satisfaction and mutual well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
15 pages, 644 KiB  
Review
Leadership Theories and the Veterinary Health Care System
by Holger Fischer, Petra Heidler, Lisa Coco and Valeria Albanese
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(10), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9100538 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3537
Abstract
This descriptive review aims to illustrate the different leadership theories as they may apply to the veterinary health care sector, and specifically, to the affection and sports animal subsectors. The increasing and ever-changing challenges veterinary health care operators and investors operating in these [...] Read more.
This descriptive review aims to illustrate the different leadership theories as they may apply to the veterinary health care sector, and specifically, to the affection and sports animal subsectors. The increasing and ever-changing challenges veterinary health care operators and investors operating in these subsectors face are briefly described, as well as the most known leadership theories and styles, each with its possible advantages and disadvantages specific to its application to the veterinary health care system. The different theories are illustrated in their key aspects and their historical evolution. Finally, the discussion focuses on transformational leadership as it is seen as the most progressive and promising leadership style to hold up to said challenges in the veterinary health care system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Medical Education: Challenges and Perspectives)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop