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Humer E, Winter S, Probst T, Pieh C, Dale R, Brühl D, Neubauer V. Veterinary medicine under COVID-19: a mixed-methods analysis of student and practitioner experiences in Austria. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1460269. [PMID: 39568480 PMCID: PMC11576337 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1460269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/18/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to provide a detailed analysis of the pandemic's impact on the veterinary profession and education in Austria. Methods Two online surveys were conducted from November 2022 to January 2023, inviting all veterinarians and veterinary students in Austria to share their experiences on the impact of the pandemic on their veterinarian work and education in a free text question. Results A total of n = 289 veterinarians and n = 272 veterinary students provided an answer. In summary, 39.8% of veterinarians reported no impact by the pandemic, while others experienced changes in workload (19.7%), changes in client behavior (14.9%), implementation of safety measures (13.1%), and organizational changes (13.1%). Additional impacts included effects on mental health, private life, finances, as well as physical health. Changes were more frequently mentioned in veterinarians working with pets compared to those working with livestock. In the student panel, only a minority reported no significant impact (8.1%) but 44.9% reporting changes due to online and hybrid learning. Key issues included impaired learning conditions (34.9%), and social distancing (34.6%) leading to social isolation. Some students appreciated increased flexibility and reduced commuting (10.7%), while others experienced mental health challenges (10.7%). Further impacts were related to the implementation of safety measures (5.5%), organizational changes (4.8%) and impaired physical health due to infection (1.1%). Negative changes related to distance learning were mainly reported by students in the final study phase, whereas those in the first study phase reported more positive aspects related to online/hybrid learning. Conclusion Overall, this study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on veterinary education and professional practice in Austria, revealing diverse challenges for students and relatively lower but still notable effects on practicing veterinarians. Future research should monitor these impacts longitudinally and explore the integration of beneficial practices into standard veterinary education and care, such as effective digital learning platforms and appointment-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Humer
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Winter
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Thomas Probst
- Division of Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christoph Pieh
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Rachel Dale
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Deianira Brühl
- Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viktoria Neubauer
- Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- FFoQSI GmbH - Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Tulln, Austria
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Nappier M, Alvarez EE, Bartl-Wilson L, Boynton EP, Hanlon AL, Lozano AJ, Ng Z, Ogunmayowa O, Shoop T, Welborn ND, Wuerz J. Differences in Sleep Quality and Sleepiness among Veterinary Medical Students at Multiple Institutions Before and After the Pandemic Induced Transition to Online Learning. JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EDUCATION 2024; 51:547-557. [PMID: 39499567 DOI: 10.3138/jvme-2023-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2024]
Abstract
Poor sleep health has been previously documented in veterinary medical students. However, it is not known how universal or widespread this problem is. This study evaluated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores to measure sleep health among students at seven colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States (US). Inadvertently, the transition to online only learning due to the global COVID-19 pandemic was also captured. Veterinary students were found to have universally poor sleep quality and high daytime sleepiness. The transition to online only learning appeared to have little impact on sleep quality, but improved daytime sleepiness scores were observed. The findings suggest poor sleep health is common among veterinary medical students at multiple institutions in the US and that further investigation is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nappier
- Community Practice, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Dr. Phase II (MC0442), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Alvarez
- Primary Care, Department of Medical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Lara Bartl-Wilson
- Community Practice, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Dr. Phase II (MC0442), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Boynton
- Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, 309 E. Second St., Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Alexandra L Hanlon
- Department of Statistics, College of Science, Virginia Tech, 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Alicia J Lozano
- Department of Statistics, College of Science, Virginia Tech, 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Zenithson Ng
- Department of Small Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Oluwatosin Ogunmayowa
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Dr. Phase II (MC0442), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Tiffany Shoop
- Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Virginia Tech, 620 Drillfield Drive (MC 0453), 3080 Torgersen Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Nancy D Welborn
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, 1909 Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Julia Wuerz
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16 St, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
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Hubach RD, Tonne R. US veterinarians' perceptions of discussing COVID-19 vaccination with animal owners during routine visits. One Health 2022; 15:100418. [PMID: 35910301 PMCID: PMC9308494 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination uptake is disproportionately lower among rural, politically conservative, and underserved individuals in the United States. Engaging this population requires leveraging unique potential human health advocates, like veterinarians. Between September and October 2021, 103 veterinarians responded to open-ended prompts to assess providers' willingness and potential barriers to discussing COVID-19 vaccination within a veterinary visit. Veterinarians perceived they had a public health role in providing reliable and accurate COVID-19 information, including information related to approved vaccines. However, veterinary practitioners were aware of numerous potential barriers to having such discussions within a clinical visit (e.g., scope of practice concerns, shifting focus away from the animal, politicization of vaccination). Findings indicate policy efforts, aligned with the One Health initiative, are needed to address the role of veterinary medicine in human health care following catastrophic events, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, veterinarians require tailored vaccine materials that can be utilized within the clinic or community setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph D Hubach
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Rachel Tonne
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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