Frequency of activities and procedures performed in private equine practice and proficiency expected of new veterinary school graduates.

The research article is focused on understanding and documenting the common tasks and proficiency level required for recent veterinary graduates in private equine (horse) practice.

Study Context

• The study was conducted in response to educational standardization in veterinary medicine. The accreditation process by the AVMA’s Council on Education requires outcome assessment to ensure that graduates of veterinary programs are sufficiently skilled.
• Existing learning objectives and expected skills for new veterinary graduates have been established, guiding educational programs. However, the assessment methods vary greatly between different schools and colleges.

Need for Research

• Outcome assessment tools need to be aligned with the actual tasks and procedures carried out by practicing veterinarians to acccurately measure graduate readiness.
• Research exists detailing the activities and proficiency levels expected of graduates for small animal practice and food animal practice. However, similar information for equine practice is underdocumented.
• Prior studies such as a workload survey of Dutch veterinarians showcased common tasks in equine practice, which includes lameness consultations, follicle checks, vaccinations, radiology etc., however, specific employer expectations haven’t been reported.

Study Purpose

• The authors set out to fill this gap in the academic research, aiming to create a better understanding of equine practice by designing a survey.
• The survey measured the standard procedures and activities performed by equine practitioners, how frequently they are performed, and the expected proficiency level for new graduates in the field.