'Grinning and bearing it'-A survey study exploring animal-related injuries in UK and Irish veterinary students

While veterinary surgeons are known to have particularly high rates of injury compared to other sectors, little is known about the rates of injury among veterinary students. This study aims to understand animal-related injury rates, injury context and mechanisms, attitudes to reporting injuries, and resultant behaviour among UK and Irish veterinary students.

A survey was distributed to students across all veterinary schools operating in the UK and Ireland in 2021. Questions explored participants' experience of injury through asking about their most recent and most severe injuries via quantitative and free-text questions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression and qualitative content analysis.

Five hundred thirty-three responses were included in the analyses. Overall, 47.5% of the students reported having been injured by an animal during the veterinary degree, and 35.5% of the students reported being injured within the last 12 months. Most recent injuries were caused by companion animals (38.0%), livestock (37.6%) and equids (23.5%). For their most severe injuries, 48.7% involved livestock, 28.7% companion animals and 22.1% equids. The content analysis highlighted that students normalised injuries and infrequently reported injuries to the university. It was very rare for students to take time off from their studies or placements due to course pressures.

These findings reflect concerningly high levels of injury, which are being under-reported and reflect a culture of injury acceptance and expectation among students. Veterinary schools should consider lessons learned in other work environments that have been successful in changing safety culture.