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Ontario Veterinary College First-Year Veterinary Students' Perceptions of Companion Animal Nutrition and Their Own Nutrition: Implications for a Veterinary Nutrition Curriculum
- Source :
- Journal of veterinary medical education. 48(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Extant research shows veterinarians face increasing challenges in discussing nutrition with clients despite receiving professional nutrition education in the veterinary medical curriculum. This article’s aim is to elicit student veterinarians’ baseline nutrition-related perceptions and nutrition information-seeking behaviors at the time of entering veterinary school. Participants were newly enrolled veterinary students at the Ontario Veterinary College ( n = 120). Focus group discussions ( n = 19) informed the design of an online questionnaire capturing students’ demographics and perceptions of their own and their pets’ nutrition. Students reported being influenced by individual factors (e.g., time), social networks (e.g., family), and surrounding environment (e.g., cost, contradictory media messages). Overall, 58% of students considered themselves knowledgeable about pet nutrition when commencing veterinary school, with 71% prioritizing their pets’ diets as much as their own. Students’ confidence in finding pet nutrition information was correlated with perceived accessibility ( r = .76, p = .001) and perceived quantity of information available on pet nutrition ( r = .83, p = .001), but not quality of information ( r = .13, p = .03). In general, students relied on and trusted veterinarians for nutrition advice. However, 94% of students mistrusted pet food companies’ motivations. Our data support that students entering veterinary school have their own perceptions on pet nutrition that impact nutrition education, suggesting this as an important consideration in the design and delivery of a veterinary nutrition curriculum. Veterinary medical faculty should be encouraged to discuss baseline nutrition information and address any misconceptions to prepare students for future consultations with clients.
- Subjects :
- Veterinary medicine
Medical curriculum
020205 medical informatics
040301 veterinary sciences
Nutrition Education
Companion animal
media_common.quotation_subject
education
02 engineering and technology
Education
0403 veterinary science
Extant taxon
Perception
ComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATION
0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
Animals
Humans
Students
Curriculum
media_common
Ontario
ComputingMilieux_THECOMPUTINGPROFESSION
General Veterinary
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
General Medicine
Pets
InformationSystems_MISCELLANEOUS
Psychology
Education, Veterinary
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0748321X
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of veterinary medical education
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2068a3c7cd8a6b809cb454ff8f2b94ad