How decision-making about euthanasia for animals is taught to Australasian veterinary students.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Animal Welfare Ethics
• Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

• Euthanasia is a critical aspect of veterinary practice.
• Effective teaching of euthanasia decision-making is essential for veterinary graduates.
• Current educational approaches in Australasia require examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the methods and content used to teach animal euthanasia decision-making in Australasian veterinary schools.
• To identify variations in teaching practices across different animal categories.
• To assess the comprehensiveness of euthanasia education provided to veterinary students.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-style interview guide was administered to representatives from eight Australasian veterinary schools.
• Educators were interviewed regarding their teaching of euthanasia decision-making for livestock, equine, companion, and avian/wildlife animals.
• Thematic analysis was employed to categorize teaching modes and content.

Main Results:

• All surveyed schools reported teaching euthanasia decision-making for livestock, companion, and avian/wildlife animals; one school lacked specific instruction for equine animals.
• Teaching content included human-centered factors (e.g., financial, owner's decision) and animal-based indicators (e.g., quality of life, prognosis, behavior).
• While most institutions used diverse teaching methods like lectures, two relied on opportunistic case discussions, potentially limiting consistent student exposure.

Conclusions:

• Australasian veterinary schools generally incorporate euthanasia decision-making into their curriculum using varied approaches.
• The reliance on opportunistic teaching in some institutions may lead to inconsistent student learning experiences.
• Further standardization and comprehensive pedagogical strategies are recommended to ensure all veterinary students receive robust training in euthanasia decision-making.