Active learning for an evidence-based veterinary medicine course during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Veterinary Education
• Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Epidemiology courses can be challenging for veterinary students due to complex statistics and difficulty in contextualization.
• Traditional curricula may not effectively engage students or highlight practical applications in veterinary practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a practical epidemiology course for second-year veterinary students.
• To integrate essential epidemiological concepts with evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) principles.
• To enhance students' ability to apply epidemiological knowledge in clinical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum redesign focusing on core epidemiological concepts relevant to practicing veterinarians.
• Integration of evidence-based veterinary medicine principles.
• Inclusion of graduate student mentors for journal clubs and research assignments.

Main Results:

• Students reported enjoyment and perceived usefulness of the course for veterinary practice.
• An assignment led to some students publishing their review findings, demonstrating advanced learning.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests improved student engagement and skill development.

Conclusions:

• A practical, integrated approach to teaching epidemiology can improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Connecting epidemiological concepts to EBVM principles equips future veterinarians with essential clinical decision-making skills.
• The course structure, including mentorship and publication opportunities, positively impacted student experience and skill acquisition.