Continuing veterinary medical education needs and delivery preferences of Alberta veterinarians

The questionnaire component of a continuing-education needs assessment of Alberta veterinarians is described. A questionnaire about work characteristics, topic priorities, and program delivery preferences was mailed to all licensed Alberta veterinarians, 54% of whom responded. Topic-priority data were factor analyzed, and differences in priorities were examined using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Seven learning areas emerged: veterinary medicine, professionalism and practice management, animal welfare, livestock practice and epidemiology, prophylaxis and therapeutics, specialty diagnostics, and theriogenology. Associations between delivery preferences and work characteristics were sought using MANOVA and contingency tables analysis. Significant differences were identified in learning-area priorities and preferred program types and times when respondents were grouped by species focus, and there were significant associations between respondents' location and their preferred learning locations. There were no significant associations between location or practice size and preferred program type. Group differences support the need for events tailored by species focus. Delivery preferences suggest that workload and distance are barriers to attendance, although face-to-face events were universally preferred.