Evaluating Communication Training at AVMA COE-Accredited Institutions and the Need to Consider Diversity within Simulated Client Pools.

J Vet Med Educ. April 2023;50(2):192 - 204.

Elizabeth Soltero¹, César D Villalobos², Ryane E Englar³, Teresa Graham Brett⁴

¹ University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, 1580 E Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737 USA.; ² Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, 1580 E Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737 USA.; ³ Associate Professor of Practice, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, 1580 E Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737 USA.; ⁴ Diversity, and Inclusion, and Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, 1580 E Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737 USA.

Abstract

The push for competency-based veterinary medical education by accrediting bodies has led to the inclusion of non-technical skills within curricula. Communication, self-awareness, and cultural humility are considered essential for post-graduate success. To facilitate skills development, veterinary educators have incorporated a variety of modalities including lecture, group discussions, virtual and peer-assisted learning, role play, video review of consultations, and simulated clients (SCs). The overarching goal is developing students into self-reflective practitioners through exposure to clinical scenarios that enhance and embody diversity. Decision making about case management is subject to stereotypes, bias, and assumptions. Racial and ethnic disparities reported in health care can adversely impact patient outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate communication training and diversity among SC pools within veterinary colleges. A questionnaire was electronically disseminated to assistant/associate deans and/or directors of curriculum/education at 54 American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education-accredited or provisionally accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. Twenty-one institutions are represented within the data set. Participating institutions summarized their communication curricula: 18 (85.71%) used SCs. Over 55% of these did not track SC demographic data or social identities; among institutions that did track, SCs were primarily monolingual English-speaking (77%), non-disabled (94.2%), white (90.4%), non-Hispanic/Latinx (98.6%) women (57%) over age 56 (64%). Sixteen institutions agreed with the statement "I do not feel that our SC pool is adequately diverse." Respondents shared that lack of time and capacity for recruitment were barriers to diversifying SC pools and proposed strategies to improve outreach.

Keywords

barriers to diversity; client communication; diversifying simulated client (SC) pools; diversity; simulated clients (SCs); simulation-based education (SBE); social identity;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Investigating the relationship between canine training classes and post-adoption return rates in North American shelters
Of all the returned dogs, those who attended training were more likely to be returned for owner-related reasons (58.8?%), whereas dogs who did not attend training were more likely to be returned for animal-related reasons (78.9?%). While attending training classes at animal shelters may help to reduce behavioral returns, as shown by the shift in return reasons, they do not appear to reduce return rates significantly for the general shelter population.

Feline blood donation: Description and adverse reactions from 29 201 donation events between 2019 and 2023.
Adverse reactions were uncommon (0.29%, 2.88/1000 donor events) and most commonly were cardiorespiratory (0.08%, 0.75/1000 donor events) or behavioral (0.06%, 0.62/1000 donor events). The only risk factor significantly associated with adverse reactions was conscious donation, with conscious donors 4.4 times more likely to have an adverse reaction.

National survey reveals elastic price sensitivity for select equine veterinary services.
Willingness-to-pay questions were presented with a payment card approach and addressed 3 common services: annual spring vaccinations, lameness examinations, and emergency colic surgeries. In a payment card approach, respondents choose from among preselected values. Respondents were asked to choose the maximum amount they would be willing to pay for each service.

"My Bitch Is Empty!" An Overview of the Reasons for Pregnancy Loss in Dogs.
If embryonic death occurs before day 35 of gestation, the embryo is absorbed. Fetal death in the second half of gestation leads to abortion or fetal emphysema, maceration, or mummification.

How to plan and provide general anesthesia for a troop of 98 hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) for contraceptive and preventative health interventions.
A group of 12 veterinarians, 2 zookeepers, and 6 volunteers anesthetized all animals within 2 days. The baboons were orally premedicated with midazolam (0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg) and anesthetized with medetomidine (40 to 60 µg/kg, IM) and ketamine (2 to 4 mg/kg, IM); isoflurane at rates of 1.5% to 2% was used for maintaining anesthesia if necessary. For population management, the animals received a contraceptive implant (adult females), orchiectomy (young males), or vasectomy (breeding males).