Faculty Perspectives Regarding Day One-Ready Examination Items.

The objective of this mixed-methods, cross-sectional study was to evaluate faculty perspectives regarding Day One-Ready (DOR) content on examination questions given to students at a veterinary medical college and to elucidate whether differing viewpoints on what information constitutes DOR knowledge exist among different veterinary disciplines. Twelve faculty members at a veterinary medical college from three different disciplines (small animal internal medicine, surgery, and primary care) reviewed examination questions given to veterinary students, answered the questions, and stated whether they tested DOR information. After elimination of items not answered by all respondents and after reviewing for question quality, 103 questions remained for analysis. An evaluator from each discipline participated in a discussion about DOR content. Of the questions, 30% were unanimously considered to assess DOR information. No association was found between type of question (medicine, surgery, uncategorized) and whether it was considered DOR. Primary care doctors assessed more questions as testing DOR information than either type of specialist. Questions answered correctly were more likely to be assessed as DOR. During discussion, themes identified with DOR information included common conditions, practical diagnostics, critical knowledge, and discriminating between differential diagnoses. Specialists and primary care doctors differed in their assessment of DOR questions. Veterinary faculty should carefully consider whether examination questions contain DOR information and are appropriate for testing knowledge of the entry-level veterinarian.

Monitoring the Veterinary Medical Student Experience: An Institutional Pilot Study.

Veterinary medical school challenges students academically and personally, and some students report depression and anxiety at rates higher than the general population and other medical students. This study describes changes in veterinary medical student self-esteem (SE) over four years of professional education, attending to differences between high and low SE students and the characteristics specific to low SE veterinary medical students. The study population was students enrolled at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine from 2006 to 2012. We used data from the annual anonymous survey administered college-wide that is used to monitor the curriculum and learning environment. The survey asked respondents to rate their knowledge and skill development, learning environment, perceptions of stress, skill development, and SE. Participants also provided information on their academic performance and demographics. A contrasting groups design was used: high and low SE students were compared using logistic regression to identify factors associated with low SE. A total of 1,653 respondents met inclusion criteria: 789 low SE and 864 high SE students. The proportion of high and low SE students varied over time, with the greatest proportion of low SE students during the second-year of the program. Perceived stress was associated with low SE, whereas perceived supportive learning environment and skill development were associated with high SE. These data have provided impetus for curricular and learning environment changes to enhance student support. They also provide guidance for additional research to better understand various student academic trajectories and their implications for success.

Feline asthma: what's new and where might clinical practice be heading?

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Feline bronchial asthma is one of the most commonly diagnosed respiratory conditions of cats. Clinical signs range from intermittent wheezing and coughing, which can compromise quality of life, to episodes of severe dyspnea that can be life-threatening. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Feline asthma can be easily disregarded as a simplistic condition. However, much about its pathophysiology remains obscure. There is no gold standard method of diagnosis, and current approaches are associated with various limitations. Also, feline asthma is typically treated with long-term glucocorticoid therapy, which can have significant consequences. AUDIENCE: Because of its prevalence, general practitioners encounter asthma regularly. Refractory cases are often managed by veterinary internists and pulmonologists. PATIENT GROUP: Asthma can be diagnosed in cats of any age but is usually seen in young to middle-aged adults (mean 4 years, range 1-15 years). There is no sex predilection, but the Siamese breed appears to be overrepresented. EVIDENCE BASE: While the standard clinical approach to feline asthma has changed little in recent years, new research has provided greater insight into many aspects of this complex disease and new strategies are being studied. This article reviews the current literature in order to raise awareness of how advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of feline asthma may be determining the future direction of clinical practice.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the diaphragm in a dog.

An 11-year-old, castrated male greyhound was referred to the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for surgical removal of a thoracic mass. Thoracic radiographs revealed a smoothly marginated mass obscuring the diaphragm in the left caudal thorax. Ultrasonographic and computed tomographic imaging modalities demonstrated a mass originating from the left hemidiaphragm. The mass was surgically removed and submitted for histopathological evaluation. Histopathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.