An evaluation of the feasibility of using first-year veterinary students in animal health education programmes

Awareness of the importance and relevance of community-oriented medical education is increasing. Although a number of medical faculties have already adopted this approach for their undergraduate training, this idea does not appear to have received the same degree of acceptance within veterinary schools. This study attempts to provide evidence in support of the feasibility of a community-oriented curriculum. First-year veterinary science students at the Medical University of Southern Africa received a very short orientation course on the social determinants of disease; the Primary Health Care (PHC) philosophy and how PHC differs from the basic health service approach; how to shift the locus of control for health away from the health professional and back into the community; dependency theory; basic pet care; sociology (including systems and conflict theory); problems with the application of a technological imperative within a systems perspective; social research; basic statistical concepts; health care systems and their evolution; marketing principles in relation to health education; the importance of positioning and how to effectively use communication skills within a classroom setting. After this course the students successfully participated in an animal health education programme within the community.