De Ruyver Ciska, Moons Christel P H
Department of Veterinary and Biosciences of Ghent University and the department of Veterinary Medicine of UNamur. Ethology and Animal Welfare Group, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Department of Veterinary and Biosciences. Ethology and Animal Welfare Group, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
J Vet Med Educ. 2025 Jun;52(3):317-326. doi: 10.3138/jvme-2023-0157. Epub 2024 May 24.
Research has demonstrated that educating veterinary students in animal ethics helps them address moral dilemmas in their later careers. Teaching about animal ethics dilemmas to large student groups is challenging. Therefore, a polling series was created for first-year veterinary students at Ghent University, Belgium. Over the course of three theoretical sessions and during four consecutive academic years, students answered four questions about which animals they have at home, prioritization of animal versus owner interests, motivations for studying veterinary medicine, and eating patterns. Poll results were used to discuss student views in an applied session. The voluntary polls were a success, with more than half of the students taking part and with the participation rate increasing over four years. Findings indicate that animal ethics topics were more likely to elicit a response from students than veterinary ethics topics. This trend persisted in applied sessions, where students found it easier to discuss and substantiate animal ethics dilemmas compared to veterinary ethics dilemmas. In conclusion, discussing polling results on animal ethics dilemmas can help first-year veterinary students develop ethical awareness, personal identity, and decision-making skills.
研究表明，对兽医专业学生进行动物伦理学教育有助于他们在日后的职业生涯中应对道德困境。向大型学生群体讲授动物伦理学困境具有挑战性。因此，为比利时根特大学的一年级兽医专业学生创建了一个民意调查系列。在连续四个学年的三个理论课程中，学生们回答了四个问题，分别是他们家里养了哪些动物、动物利益与主人利益的优先级、学习兽医学的动机以及饮食习惯。民意调查结果在应用课程中用于讨论学生的观点。这些自愿参与的民意调查取得了成功，超过一半的学生参与其中，并且参与率在四年间有所上升。研究结果表明，与兽医伦理学主题相比，动物伦理学主题更有可能引发学生的回应。这一趋势在应用课程中持续存在，在这些课程中，学生们发现与兽医伦理学困境相比，讨论和论证动物伦理学困境更容易。总之，讨论关于动物伦理学困境的民意调查结果有助于一年级兽医专业学生培养道德意识、个人认同感和决策技能。
