Setting Up and Running Online Communities of Practice (CoPs) for Veterinary Educators.

Communities of practice (CoPs) are social systems consisting of individuals who come together to share knowledge and solve problems around a common interest. For educators, membership of a CoP can facilitate access to expertise and professional development activities and generate new collaborations. This teaching tip focuses on online CoPs and provides tips for setting up and running such communities.

Mental health of veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses: A scoping review.

Background: Research has shown that veterinarians around the world are at high risk of mental health problems, but far less research has examined the mental health of veterinary nurses (VNs) and student veterinary nurses (SVNs). This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on this topic and identify knowledge gaps.

Methods: Literature searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were conducted, and a structured screening and selection procedure was applied.

Survey investigating factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary nursing profession.

Background: Recruitment and retention have been identified as contributing factors to workforce shortages in the veterinary team.

Methods: Results from veterinary nurses to an online questionnaire regarding recruitment and retention were analysed.

Results: Veterinary nurses had few job changes (median 2); however, 53.

Exploring Barriers to One Health Antimicrobial Stewardship in Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Study among Healthcare Professionals.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat, but little is known about the perceptions regarding antimicrobials and AMR among healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka. This research aimed to take a One Health approach to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of antibiotic stewardship and AMR among healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka. A qualitative study, using telephone interviews, allowing for an in-depth exploration of attitudes, beliefs and perspectives was conducted.

Misconceptions of Antibiotics as a Potential Explanation for Their Misuse. A Survey of the General Public in a Rural and Urban Community in Sri Lanka.

Reducing the growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through public understanding is a goal of the World Health Organization. It is especially important in countries where antibiotics are widely available for common ailments without prescription. This study assessed understanding of antibiotics and AMR alongside perception of antibiotic usage among the general public in two diverse Sri Lankan communities: ordinary urban and indigenous rural.

Preliminary testing of psychometric properties of the 'student perceptions of veterinary interprofessional education and work scale' (SP-VIEWS).

Responsibility for the provision of veterinary care and services is increasingly shared between veterinary surgeons/veterinarians and registered veterinary nurses/veterinary technicians. Interprofessional education of these clinical professionals is not widespread but is growing. Understanding students' perceptions of veterinary interprofessional education and working is therefore important; however, no validated scale exists to assess this.

Developing Inter-Professional Education Initiatives to Aid Working and Learning Between Veterinarians and Veterinary Nurses/Vet Techs.

The veterinary workplace consists of different professionals working together in inter-professional teams. Previous work has explored the benefits of effective veterinary teamwork for multiple stakeholders. In this teaching tip article, we outline the underlying educational theories and tips for developing inter-professional teaching to foster students' appreciation of the different roles and responsibilities of veterinarians and veterinary nurses/vet techs.

Investigation of factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary profession.

Background: Recruitment and retention is currently of major concern and has resulted in the veterinary profession being returned to the UK's Shortage Occupation List in 2019.

Methods: An online questionnaire of veterinary employees and employers investigating factors contributing to leaving/staying in current employment and the profession. The questionnaire was distributed via specialist veterinary associations' email lists and social media from September to October 2018.

Conflict Between Direct Experience and Research-Based Evidence Is a Key Challenge to Evidence-Based Respiratory Medicine on British Racing Yards.

Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is a commonly diagnosed but variably defined syndrome of equine lower airway inflammation. The most recent American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement, informed by research evidence, recommends a case definition based on clinical signs (poor performance or occasional coughing of at least 3 weeks duration), increased endoscopically-visible tracheal mucus, and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, and proposes that the condition should be termed 'mild-moderate equine asthma' (mEA). In British Thoroughbred racehorses, research to date has focused on airway inflammation defined by increased tracheal mucus and inflammatory tracheal wash sample cytology.

Women in veterinary leadership positions: their motivations and enablers.

Background: Despite now having higher numbers of women than men within the veterinary profession, there are substantially less women in leadership roles. Research, primarily in other professions, has focussed on barriers to leadership and sometimes overlooked facilitators and motivators. This study aimed to explore the motivating factors for female veterinary surgeons to become leaders, to identify potential strategies to increase female leadership.

Mindset and its relationship to anxiety in clinical veterinary students.

This study investigated anxiety, one aspect of mental wellbeing, in fourth year veterinary students before the final clinical section of their course (intramural rotations (IMR)). It explored the relationship between reported anxiety and 'mindset': an individual's view on the ability to develop (eg, improve intelligence). Questionnaires were completed by 130 students.

Student experiences and perceptions of compulsory research projects: a veterinary perspective.

Background: Although research underpins clinical work, many students training to be clinicians are not inherently interested in developing research skills.

Aim: To characterise and understand veterinary student experiences and perceptions of compulsory research projects.

Methods: This was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, with a questionnaire survey of an entire cohort informing purposive selection for focus group discussions.

Understanding the primary care paradigm: an experiential learning focus of the early veterinary graduate.

At a time where high levels of stress are reported in the veterinary profession, this study explores the challenges that veterinary graduates encounter when they enter general (first opinion) practice. Participants had written reflective accounts of their 'Most Puzzling Cases' for the postgraduate Professional Key Skills module of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, offered by the Royal Veterinary College. Reasons that a case was puzzling, or became challenging, were thematically analysed.

Continuing professional development: researching non-technical competencies can support cognitive reappraisal and reduced stress in clinicians.

Generic professional capabilities (non-technical competencies) are increasingly valued for their links to patient outcomes and clinician well-being. This study explores the emotional change, and practice-related outcomes, of participants of a veterinary professional key skills (PKS) continuing professional development (CPD) module. Reflective summaries produced by participants were analysed.

Evaluating #VetFinals: Can Twitter help students prepare for final examinations?

Twitter is increasingly used in education. In this article, Twitter was evaluated for its potential to aid veterinary students in their preparation for final examinations. "#VetFinals" revision sessions were facilitated by experts on a variety of topics.

Teaching Tip: Developing an Intercollegiate Twitter Forum to Improve Student Exam Study and Digital Professionalism.

#VetFinals has been developed as a novel online Twitter teaching event designed to support intercollegiate veterinary teaching using social media. Previous studies in other fields have suggested that Twitter use within universities may have benefits for undergraduate education. This "teaching tip" paper describes a project using Twitter to host online exam study sessions.

The winding path to a PhD in veterinary education.

Masters and PhD degrees specific to veterinary education are relatively novel, but the number of students in this area is growing. As two current students, Tierney Kinnison and Sylvain Dernat, explain, those undertaking these degrees have vastly different backgrounds and are researching a variety of topics. By sharing the experiences of those involved, they hope to encourage the next generation of veterinary educators to begin their research careers.

Inter-professional practice: from veterinarian to the veterinary team.

Animal health care is being delivered by an increasing number of professions and occupations. This article takes an inward look at the veterinary team, focusing on the day-to-day life of veterinarians and those with whom they work, such as veterinary technicians/nurses, physical therapists, and farriers. The evolution of the work of the veterinarian should be explored alongside the evolution of closely related occupations, as the current working practice of veterinarians is affected by the practice of these other occupations.

Development of the Animal Management and Husbandry Online Placement Tool.

The workplace provides veterinary students with opportunities to develop a range of skills, making workplace learning an important part of veterinary education in many countries. Good preparation for work placements is vital to maximize learning; to this end, our group has developed a series of three computer-aided learning (CAL) packages to support students. The third of this series is the Animal Management and Husbandry Online Placement Tool (AMH OPT).

Developing an online professional network for veterinary education: the NOVICE project.

An online professional network for veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary educationalists, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) educationalists is being developed under the EU (European Union) Lifelong Learning Programme. The network uses Web 2.0, a term used to describe the new, more interactive version of the Internet, and includes tools such as wikis, blogs, and discussion boards.

Piloting interprofessional education interventions with veterinary and veterinary nursing students.

Interprofessional education (IPE) has received little attention in veterinary education even though members of the veterinary and nursing professions work closely together. The present study investigates veterinary and veterinary nursing students' and practitioners' experiences with interprofessional issues and the potential benefits of IPE. Based on stakeholder consultations, two teaching interventions were modified or developed for use with veterinary and veterinary nursing students: Talking Walls, which aimed to increase individuals' understanding of each other's roles, and an Emergency-Case Role-Play Scenario, which aimed to improve teamwork.

The transition into veterinary practice: opinions of recent graduates and final year students.

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.