Search Results (55)

Burnout is a major challenge for the veterinary profession and is closely linked to negative effects on mental health, reduced job satisfaction and impaired professional sustainability. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of burnout symptoms among Slovenian veterinarians and their association with factors such as work–life balance, ethical dilemmas and overall job satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2024, to which all registered Slovenian veterinarians (N = 1250) were invited. The response rate was 38% (N = 473). Burnout was assessed using the Mayo Clinic Physicians Wellbeing Index, which captures both the traditional burnout dimensions and broader indicators of psychological distress such as anxiety and depression. Results showed that 45.5% of veterinarians reported low burnout, 26.4% reported moderate burnout, and 28.3% reported high burnout. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that work–life imbalance, ethical conflicts and long working hours were significant predictors of burnout symptoms, with younger veterinarians and women being disproportionately affected. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the systemic and individual factors that contribute to burnout in veterinary practice. Tailored interventions that focus on improving work–life balance, enhancing ethical decision-making and promoting mental health awareness are recommended to mitigate the risks of burnout. These findings contribute to the growing literature on veterinarian well-being and provide valuable insight into the development of targeted strategies to promote veterinarians’ mental health and career sustainability. Full article

Background: veterinary medicine is among the most stressful professions and is characterized by long working hours and high emotional demands. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between overcommitment and psychological stress (on the basis of irritation) among veterinarians in Germany, with a particular focus on age differences. Methods: the analysis included a sample of 995 veterinarians divided into three age groups: <35 years, 35–45 years and >45 years. Sociodemographic and job-related data as well as the overcommitment scale (OC, subscale of the Effort–Reward–Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire), and the irritation scale (IS), were both collected. Results: the results reveal that younger (vs. older) veterinarians are significantly more likely to have high overcommitment levels. This group also reported higher-than-average levels of cognitive and emotional irritation, whereas the oldest age group reported comparatively lower overcommitment levels. Age and years of work were negatively correlated with overcommitment, and overcommitment was strongly positively correlated with cognitive and emotional irritation. Conclusions: this study highlights the need for preventative measures to reduce overcommitment and mental stress, particularly among young veterinarians. Interventions during veterinarian studies and in the workplace that promote excessive expectations and stress are crucial to ensure long-term mental health and job satisfaction among this professional group. Full article

The veterinary profession is rapidly evolving, requiring curricular renewal to address emerging challenges and enhance graduate preparedness. A survey was conducted among students and alumni of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Porto (n = 279), Portugal, to evaluate the need for an updated veterinary curriculum. Respondents conveyed a strong preference for companion animal medicine, likely influenced by sociocultural factors and media representation. To address current and future demands, it was recommended to re-evaluate curricular structures (e.g., course duration and electives), incorporate non-technical skills, and enhance practical education. Additional reforms should be supported by feedback mechanisms and stakeholder consultations. Alumni expressed dissatisfaction with the job market, which should be addressed through continuous education and specialization and greater intervention of the Portuguese Veterinary Board. In summary, areas for improvement and increased stakeholder involvement were identified as opportunities for veterinary curricular renewal. Full article

In recent years, the European companion animal veterinary care market has experienced significant growth, with 166 million households (50%) owning one or more of Europe’s 352 million companion animals. This expansion is accompanied by a notable market trend toward the corporatisation of veterinary practices, particularly in urban areas and certain countries. Corporatisation has reshaped the profession, offering benefits such as economies of scale, advanced veterinary treatments, and structured career pathways for early-career veterinarians. However, this shift also prompted discussions on the impact it has on rising costs of care, professional autonomy constraints, and potential reductions in rural practice attractiveness. Our comprehensive study, combining a large-scale survey of European veterinarians, semi-structured questionnaires, and an extensive literature review, maps the current state of corporatisation in Europe, identifies key players, and examines its impact on the veterinary profession and broader society. The findings underscore the rapid expansion of corporate veterinary practices and the accompanying competitive pressure on independent vet-owned clinics. To ensure a sustainable future for the profession, our research highlights the need for further investigation to fully comprehend the effects of corporatisation. Addressing these challenges is essential to protect the interests of animals and their caretakers, veterinarians, and the wider society. Full article

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a neurodegenerative disease likely to affect 14% to 35% of dogs over the age of eight years. Although it can be associated with a high burden of care in owners of affected dogs, there is a lack of knowledge of how veterinarians diagnose and manage the disease. The aim of this study was to determine how veterinary professionals (veterinarians and veterinary nurses/technicians) manage CCD and their attitudes towards the disease using an anonymous online survey. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences according to years of experience, and multiple correspondence analysis was used to analyze clusters according to age, gender, and experience. One hundred and four responses were obtained: 73 veterinarians and 31 veterinary nurses/technicians. Veterinarians diagnosed CCD based on their own experience or by excluding other diseases (27/73, 37% and 25/73, 34%, respectively) and mostly diagnosed a few cases/year (34/73, 47%) or a few in their career (19/73, 26%). CCD was managed using specific medication or environmental changes (57/73, 78% and 58/73, 79%, respectively). Over half of veterinarians agreed/strongly agreed that they were confident in diagnosing CCD (49/73, 67%) and in giving advice on symptom management (53/73, 71%), but only 14/31 (45%) of veterinary nurses/technicians agreed that veterinarians in their practice actively treated dogs with CCD. Participants mostly agreed that CCD is associated with a large burden of care for owners, but less than half measured this burden of care. Although veterinary professionals are aware of CCD, the low rate of diagnosis suggests many dogs are undiagnosed. Increased awareness of the disease by the veterinary profession will enhance human and dog welfare. Full article

(1) Background: Veterinary virtual care holds the potential to alleviate some barriers to accessing care, yet concerns within the profession exist. Understanding veterinarians’ perspectives and identifying the potential opportunities and challenges that virtual care poses for access to veterinary care are thus needed. (2) Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with 22 companion-animal veterinarians practicing across Canada and the United States. Interviews were accompanied by an electronic survey, with which a Net Promoter Score (NPS) was calculated for each participant. Using their NPS, participants were categorized as a “promoter” or “detractor”, with respect to their perspective on veterinary virtual care. A thematic analysis was conducted on verbatim transcripts of the interviews. (3) Results: A total of 11 detractors and 11 promoters were interviewed. Four subthemes were identified, including the following: (1) there are limitations to virtual care, (2) virtual care plays a role in access to care, (3) “virtual care is better than no care” and (4) virtual care offers specific value in supplementing in-person care. (4) Conclusion: When no other option for care delivery exists, virtual care was viewed as a way to increase access to veterinary care. Full article

Veterinarians face ethical challenges during their careers, but despite evidence of work-related stress and burnout in veterinarians, moral distress has been poorly investigated. Using an online survey, professional experience, moral distress, and burnout were investigated in 704 Italian veterinarians caring for companion animals, farm animals, or both. The reliability of the moral distress questionnaire was optimal, and Factor analysis identified four factors for moral distress: I. Conflict with owner/farmer; II. Relationships with colleagues/superiors; III. Legal context/unsupportive Professional Institutions; IV. Unshared requests for euthanasia. Veterinarians reported rather low levels of moral distress but high levels of work-related stress/anxiety and a decline in empathy over time, mainly toward owners/farmers. More than 50% of veterinarians reported medium/high levels of burnout, and client-related burnout was significantly higher than animal-related burnout. Levels of work-related stress, moral distress, and burnout were higher in women, and experience exerted a protective effect. Moral distress was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and, to a lesser extent, lower professional fulfillment. The relatively low level of moral distress that emerged in the study needs further investigation, especially considering the high levels of work-related stress and anxiety reported by veterinarians. Women’s greater sensitivity to moral distress and burnout should not be overlooked given the progressive feminization of the veterinary profession worldwide. Full article

Background: Even though the mental health of veterinarians has raised concerns, little is known about the wellbeing of official veterinarians ensuring animal welfare, food safety, and control of infectious diseases and performing other tasks for veterinary public health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial conditions of official German veterinarians and to compare them with those of other employees. Methods: An online survey was conducted including 82 items of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III) and additional questions on workplace and demographics. Results: The answers of 838 respondents were analyzed, representing 26% of the target population. The average values for the dimensions Quantitative Demands, Emotional Demands, and Burnout Symptoms were substantially higher than those for German employees in other professions. Official veterinarians mainly working in animal welfare frequently experienced physical violence (6.7%) or threats of violence (53%). However, the profession also provides advantages: official veterinarians reported higher average values concerning the dimensions Control over Working Time and Influence at Work than other employees. Most participants stated that they experienced their work as meaningful, and the Job Insecurity dimension was low. Conclusions: Official veterinarians frequently experience offensive behavior and high-level demands. Therefore, measures to support and protect official veterinarians are needed. The positive aspects of this job should be emphasized to recruit and retain veterinarians in this field of the profession. Full article

Based on the importance of communication and teamwork in veterinary practice, we explored the impact of a blended learning course designed to enhance interprofessional communication skills among veterinary students and apprentice assistants. The blended learning course design included online modules, synchronous (online) seminars, and simulation training sessions. The asynchronous online elements should complement the varied schedules of different professions and meet the individual needs of participants, especially considering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The course structure, evaluations, and outcomes were documented, showing a positive impact on knowledge gain concerning communication and self-assessment in communication skills. In the pretest, the participants scored 43.18% correct answers to a knowledge test, whereas 71.50% correct answers were given in the posttest. Some participants indicated an improvement in the self-assessment of their skills. For example, before the training only 13.64% answered the question “How prepared do you feel regarding your communication skills for entering the profession?” with “Very good” or “Good”, versus 50.00% in the posttest. There were also only 22.73% of participants who agreed to having sufficient understanding of the roles of other professional groups, while in the posttest, 81.82% agreed. The evaluations highlighted positive feedback on the organization, learning environment, and overall course structure. However, challenges such as limited resources, especially time and financial constraints, influenced the implementation and ongoing development of the course. Subsequent runs of the course could gather more data to further improve the teaching of veterinary interprofessional communication. This ongoing data collection would allow continuous insights into and adjustments to the teaching methods, ensuring maximum benefit for veterinary students and apprentice assistants. Full article

Whilst recognizing the abundantly positive aspects within the different domains of the veterinary profession, the challenging socio-economic and cultural working climate has been identified as a source of veterinary mental wellbeing issues. This mixed methods study provides an overview of the mental state of veterinarians across Europe via two cross-sectional surveys in 2018/2019 (n = 14,559 veterinarians) and in 2022/2023 (n = 12,393 veterinarians). Mental wellbeing was assessed using 3 indicators: self-reported stress levels, the need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing (22% and 23%, resp., in 2018/2019 and 2022/2023) and the seven-question Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (2018/2019: 25, 2022/2023: 24.8). In both surveys, important differences were spotlighted between countries, but early-career veterinarians and female veterinarians were most at risk of decreased mental wellbeing all over Europe for all indicators. In conclusion, stress levels and need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing remained at comparatively high levels across the two surveys and standardized mental wellbeing scores remained equally low. Notwithstanding the increased attention given to veterinary wellbeing in the last decade, our results underline that major efforts remain necessary, by creating more supportive and attractive workplaces that prioritize wellbeing, a good work/life balance, and providing job satisfaction. Full article

The integration of interprofessional collaboration is becoming increasingly crucial in veterinary care settings, emphasising the need for interprofessional education (IPE) in veterinary programmes. This study explores the readiness for interprofessional learning among German veterinary students, apprentices and related occupations before and after an interprofessional communication course. It assesses the impact of this course on the participants’ attitudes using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). The course, offered in two iterations, combined asynchronous online modules, live seminars and practical training elements. The RIPLS was administered before and after the course to gauge attitude shifts towards interprofessional learning. Statistical analyses, including McNemar, Cohen’s Kappa and exact Fisher tests, were employed to compare pre- and post-test responses. Despite challenges in participant linking, significant findings emerged between the student and apprentice groups in specific areas of the RIPLS, notably in the “Professional Identity” subscale post-course. However, correlations between face-to-face contact and RIPLS ratings were not observed, suggesting a need for more integrated interprofessional learning experiences. While some limitations in sample size and profession distribution hinder generalisability, this study indicates a high receptiveness to interprofessional learning in veterinary education, emphasising the potential for attitude changes with more interactive participation and programme adjustments. Full article

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential benefits of veterinarians in improving the health and welfare of dairy sheep and goats by studying the associations of management practices employed in the farms with production- or health-related outcomes in sheep and goat farms in Greece. This work explored associations with ‘professional relationship with a veterinarian’ at 444 small ruminant dairy farms in an investigation performed around Greece, where 106 variables, related to infrastructure, animals, production outcomes, health management, health problems and human resources, were assessed. In 384 (86.5%) farms, a professional relationship with a veterinarian was maintained. The median value of visits made annually by veterinarians to these farms was five. In farms with a professional relationship with a veterinarian, significant differences were found in 24 variables (35.8%) related to management practices and 6 (30.0%) production- or health-related outcomes. In multivariable analysis, the following emerged with a significant association: epg counts in faecal samples (p = 0.014), average annual milk production per ewe/doe (p = 0.015), somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk (p = 0.037), and annual incidence of clinical mastitis (p = 0.044). Moreover, associations of the characteristics of veterinarians emerged with somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk: the gender (p < 0.0001) and the age (p = 0.004) of the veterinarians. The results attest that the application of veterinary advice and clinical services in sheep and goat dairy farms contributes to the improved health, production and welfare of animals. Full article

Being characterized by high numbers of physical and mental health issues, the veterinary sector faces some negative peculiarities compared to other professions. To evaluate and possibly improve employees’ well-being and to reward according to individual motivation, managing staff and the profession in general must understand every individual’s motivation. Defining the motivation of veterinary professionals in a multidisciplinary way can be the first step in increasing the well-being of employees. To assemble current theories of work motivation and adapt and extend them to serve the veterinary profession, basic knowledge of the classical general psychological motivational theories and work motivational theories is inevitable. The authors aimed to illustrate the different motivational theories’ key aspects and historical evolution to provide veterinary personnel with broad knowledge. In addition, the availability of already existing literature should be evaluated. A scoping review was performed. Methodological, empirical, review, and theoretical articles were evaluated. Only a minority of the studies (1.3%) evaluated motivational theories in veterinary health care. This reflects that there is a need for research in this field. Still, it is illustrated that the veterinarian profession would benefit from the implementation of general psychological as well as motivational work theories. Full article

The professional quality of life (ProQOL) in the veterinary profession has gained increasing attention, yet little is known about its association with the mental health status of Hong Kong veterinarians. This study aimed to examine the impact of elements that make up ProQOL on the risk of suicide, depression, and anxiety among Hong Kong veterinarians. All veterinarians registered and practicing in Hong Kong at the time of recruitment were eligible to take part in the e-survey study between 1 January and 31 March 2022. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data from 56 participants. The results showed that 22.0% of the participants were at risk of suicide, 19.6% had current suicidal ideation, 29.4% had depression, and 29.4% had anxiety symptoms. The findings suggested poor mental health status among Hong Kong veterinarians and were comparable to or more prevalent than those reported in Anglophone and European countries. Results from the binary logistic regression suggested that burnout was a predictor of depressive symptoms, and that secondary traumatic stress showed potential in predicting suicide risk. Our study, however, did not find conclusive evidence supporting compassion satisfaction as a predictor of reduced symptoms of common mental issues. Further investigation into contextual factors affecting the mental health of veterinarians in Hong Kong is warranted. Improving the profession’s mental health literacy and self-efficacy should be prioritized as a suicide prevention strategy to enhance mental health awareness. Full article

The cancer profile of veterinarians has received little research attention, despite the profession potentially being exposed to a wide range of known and suspected carcinogens. In this large-scale cohort study, we assessed cancer incidence in veterinarians in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, across more than 40 years (1961–2005). The cohort comprised 4708 veterinarians and 119,503 person-years at follow-up. The overall cancer incidence in veterinarians was close to the incidence in the total population in all countries and in all age groups. In male veterinarians, the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) in 1961–1990 were elevated for colon cancer (1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39–2.44), prostate cancer (1.35, 95% CI 1.07–1.67), and especially skin melanoma (3.62, 95% CI 2.78–2.84), while there was no longer any statistically significant excess in the more recent follow-up period. Decreased SIRs were observed for lip cancer (0.11, 95% CI 0.00–0.62), laryngeal cancer (0.38, 95% CI 0.12–0.89), lung cancer (0.59, 95% CI 0.47–0.74), and stomach cancer (0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.86), without a marked change in SIR over time. Non-significant excesses among male veterinarians were also observed in Hodgkin lymphoma (1961–1990 only), and leukaemia. This multi-country study indicates that there was an elevated incidence of several cancer types among male veterinarians before the 1990s but not after that. Some of the findings might rather be attributed to lifestyle factors and not directly to work conditions, but the excess risk of cancers of kidney and bladder, for example, might be related to work exposures. Full article