Environmentally sustainable management practices support veterinary staff wellbeing

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Environmental Health
• Animal Health

Background:

• Veterinary technicians and assistants are crucial for daily veterinary practice operations.
• They possess significant potential to champion sustainability within the veterinary profession.
• Understanding their views on climate change and animal health is essential for professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess veterinary support staff perspectives on climate change's health impacts on companion animals.
• To evaluate their perceived professional responsibilities in addressing climate-related animal health issues.
• To determine the availability of educational resources on climate change for veterinary support staff.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to veterinary support staff nationwide.
• Distribution channels included veterinary practices, AVMA-accredited technician programs, and social media platforms.
• The survey targeted technicians, technician students, and assistants across the United States.

Main Results:

• Overwhelming acknowledgment of climate change and its relevance to animal health among respondents.
• Strong belief that veterinary staff require education on climate change implications for animal health.
• Significant identified gap in current educational resources and strong support for sustainable practices in clinics.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need to integrate climate-related health education into veterinary support staff curricula.
• Sustainable initiatives can enhance staff engagement and retention in veterinary practices.
• Veterinary support staff are poised to be key advocates for climate action in animal health.