Veterinary Education's Role in the Opioid Epidemic: Integration of an Online Safe Opioid Prescribing Course into the Core Curriculum.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the opioid epidemic has worsened. Opioid-related deaths continue to rise, and many of these deaths can be traced to a prescription opioid. Because veterinarians prescribe opioids, many organizations and federal agencies have called for increased veterinary education on the topic. In this teaching tip, we review the current literature surrounding the veterinary profession's link to the opioid epidemic and one potential way that educational institutions can successfully and efficiently incorporate safe opioid prescribing training into the curriculum using an online course.

Effectiveness of Supplementary Materials in Teaching the Veterinary Neurologic Examination.

Clinical neurology can be difficult for veterinary students to comprehend, and part of understanding the clinical aspect is performing a proper neurologic examination. In this study, first-year veterinary students in a Small Animal Physical Exam and Anatomy rotation were given supplemental learning activities to determine their effect on student procedural knowledge and motivation in performing a neurologic examination. Students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the first watched a video of a clinician performing the neurologic examination, the second read a handout about the neurologic exam, and the third was the control group, where students were not provided any supplemental activities. At the start and end of the rotation, students participated in a survey assessing their overall procedural knowledge and motivation to learn about the neurologic exam. No notable improvement occurred in overall student knowledge from the beginning to end of the rotation, nor when using supplemental material (p > .05). However, there was a significant difference in quiz scores between the three condition groups (p < .01), suggesting the type of learning activity did influence student learning. Additionally, students in the video and reading groups showed a significant increase in motivational scores compared with those in the control group (p < .05), demonstrating supplemental learning activities do improve student motivation in learning about the neurologic examination. This study provides evidence that while supplemental materials may not immediately help veterinary students learn to perform the neurologic examination, they do have a positive impact on students' learning motivation.

Exploring Valued Personality Traits in Practicing Veterinarians.

We examined differences in valued Big Five personality traits of small animal veterinarians between members and nonmembers of the veterinary medicine community. Between fall 2019 and spring 2020, data were collected from an online survey sent to eligible persons across a US midwestern state. Eligible persons included veterinary office clients (i.e., pet owners) and persons practicing/training in veterinary medicine. Participants completed demographic questions and 10 Likert scale items about which Big Five personality characteristics they prefer in a veterinarian. Descriptive data were determined and checked for assumptions of linearity and normality. Data for the primary analyses were analyzed using Spearman's correlations and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Participants who were members of the veterinary community of practice valued the characteristic openness more than clients but valued emotional stability less than clients. Moreover, tests revealed that young adults (aged 18-24) valued extraversion more than all other age groups but least valued agreeableness. Last, participants aged 55 and older valued agreeableness and emotional stability more than the 18-44 age groups. Findings indicate individuals from different membership and age groups have varying preferences in what personality traits they expect in a veterinarian. Clients care more about their veterinarian being able to handle adversity. Older adults want their veterinarian to be trusting and creative. These findings encourage veterinary medical education to spotlight the development of skills congruent with these desired personality traits. Gaining such skills will be useful for veterinarians who seek to grow or build lasting relationships with clientele and colleagues.

Genetic health and population monitoring of two small black bear (Ursus americanus) populations in Alabama, with a regional perspective of genetic diversity and exchange.

One of the major concerns in conservation today is the loss of genetic diversity which is a frequent consequence of population isolation and small population sizes. Fragmentation of populations and persecution of carnivores has posed a substantial threat to the persistence of free ranging carnivores in North America since the arrival of European settlers. Black bears have seen significant reductions in range size from their historic extent, which is most pronounced in the southeastern United States and even more starkly in Alabama where until recently bears were reduced to a single geographically isolated population in the Mobile River Basin. Recently a second population has naturally re-established itself in northeastern Alabama. We sought to determine size, genetic diversity and genetic connectivity for these two populations in relation to other regional populations. Both populations of black bears in Alabama had small population sizes and had moderate to low genetic diversity, but showed different levels of connectivity to surrounding populations of bears. The Mobile River Basin population had a small population size at only 86 individuals (76-124, 95% C.I.), the lowest genetic diversity of compared populations (richness = 2.33, Ho and He = 0.33), and showed near complete genetic isolation from surrounding populations across multiple tests. The newly recolonizing population in northeastern Alabama had a small but growing population doubling in 3 years (34 individuals 26-43, 95% C.I.), relatively moderate genetic diversity compared to surrounding populations (richness = 3.32, Ho = 0.53, He = 0.65), and showed a high level of genetic connectivity with surrounding populations.