Merging Clinical Cases, Client Communication, and Physiology to Enhance Student Engagement, Learning, and Skills

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Physiology Education

Background:

• Veterinary students often struggle to connect fundamental physiology concepts with clinical applications.
• A gap exists in students' ability to apply basic physiological knowledge for disease diagnosis and treatment.
• This can hinder their preparedness for professional veterinary practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To bridge the gap between classroom physiology and clinical practice for first-year veterinary students.
• To enhance students' comprehension of physiological processes and their relevance in veterinary medicine.
• To improve students' skills in communicating complex physiological information to clients.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a case-based learning project for first-year veterinary students.
• Focus on linking theoretical physiological concepts with practical diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios.
• Students engaged with simulated client interactions to explain physiological principles.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated a deeper understanding of physiological processes and their clinical significance.
• A notable increase in student confidence was observed when conveying physiological knowledge to simulated clients.
• The case project was positively received, boosting student motivation for learning physiology.

Conclusions:

• Case-based projects effectively enhance veterinary students' grasp of physiology and its clinical applications.
• Improved understanding of physiology correlates with increased confidence in client communication and clinical reasoning.
• This pedagogical approach positively impacts student engagement and learning outcomes in veterinary education.