The effectiveness of humane teaching methods in veterinary education

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Animal Welfare in Education
• Comparative Pedagogy

Background:

• Historically, animal use involving harm or death was standard in veterinary education across various disciplines.
• Concerns regarding teaching efficacy often lead to faculty opposition against non-harmful alternatives.
• Numerous humane alternatives are now available, including simulations, ethically-sourced cadavers, and clinical experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare learning outcomes between non-harmful teaching methods and harmful animal use in veterinary education.
• To assess the efficacy of humane alternatives in veterinary training.
• To identify additional benefits of non-harmful teaching methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published studies comparing learning outcomes from humane alternatives versus harmful animal use in veterinary education.
• Analysis of studies involving veterinary students and students in related academic disciplines.
• Review of papers illustrating additional benefits of humane teaching methods.

Main Results:

• In veterinary education, 45.5% of studies showed superior outcomes with humane alternatives, and 45.5% showed equivalent outcomes.
• In related academic disciplines, 38.1% of studies showed superior outcomes and 52.4% showed equivalent outcomes with humane alternatives.
• Additional benefits of humane methods include cost and time savings, enhanced customization, increased student satisfaction, and better ethical integration.

Conclusions:

• Well-designed, non-harmful teaching methods are effective and beneficial for veterinary education.
• Educators can enhance student learning and animal welfare while reducing costs by adopting humane alternatives.
• The evidence supports the integration of humane teaching strategies in veterinary curricula.