The transition into veterinary practice: Opinions of recent graduates and final year students
Date
2011-09-22Author
Rhind, Susan M.
Baillie, Sarah
Kinnison, Tierney
Shaw, Darren J.
Bell, Catriona
Mellanby, Richard J.
Hammond, Jenny
Hudson, Neil P. H.
Whittington, Rachel E.
Donnelly, Ruth
Metadata
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Rhind, S.M., Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Shaw, D.J., Bell, C., Mellanby, R.J., Hammond, J., Hudson, N.P.H., Whittington, R.E. and Donnelly, R. (2011) 'The transition into veterinary practice: Opinions of recent graduates and final year students', BMC Medical Education, 11, article no. 64.
Abstract
Background: The transition from veterinary student to member of the veterinary profession is known to be
challenging. This study aimed to determine and compare the opinions of final year veterinary students and recent
graduates on graduate attributes that ease this transition.
Methods: The study was carried out across 3 veterinary schools in the United Kingdom. Paper based or electronic
surveys were used. Final year students in the 3 schools were surveyed either electronically (school A) or on paper
(schools B and C). Student cohort sizes were 112, 227 and 102 respectively. Recent graduates were contacted
either at a reunion event (school A) or electronically from database records (school B and school C). Cohort sizes of
contacted graduates were 80, 175 and 91 respectively. Respondents were asked to rate 42 individual attributes on
a 5 point Likert scale. Focus groups with final year students and recent graduates and telephone interviews with
recent graduates were carried out. Data were analysed by two researchers through a combination of manual
coding and thematic analysis. Data were grouped into broad themes then sorted into narrower themes. Data were
then searched for counter examples.
Results: Response rates for final year students were 34% (school A), 36% (school B) and 40% (school C). Response
rates for recent graduates were 56% (school A), 20% (school B) and 11% (school C). There was a high level of
agreement between the cohorts with respect to communication skills, problem solving and decision making skills,
recognition of own limitations and the ability to cope with pressure all rated unanimously important or very
important. Business acumen, knowledge of veterinary practice management and research skills were the 3
attributes ranked at the bottom of the list. Nine attributes were identified with a significantly different (p < 0.05)
ranking between the cohorts. Final year students ranked veterinary clinical knowledge, knowledge of veterinary
public health and zoonotic issues, veterinary legislation and veterinary practice management, commitment to
continuing professional development and ability to evaluate information higher than recent graduates. Recent
graduates ranked the attributes of integrity, friendliness and compassion higher than final year students.
Conclusions: Recent graduates and final year students rate highly the attributes which help foster the client/
veterinarian relationship. Recent graduates reflect that a focus on knowledge based attributes is less important
once in practice when compared to final year. The study confirms the importance to recent graduates and final
year students of attributes considered as non-technical in the transition to working in the veterinary profession.