Personal health and nutrition information-seeking attitudes and behaviours of first year Canadian and United States veterinary students

Published:

2022-04-13

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v7i2.543

Abstract

Objective: To identify the primary sources of information first year Canadian and US veterinary students relied on for their personal health and nutrition information, and to explore their attitudes towards, and perceptions of, health information resources.

Background: Though the animal health information-seeking behaviours (HISB) of veterinary students have been explored, research regarding personal HISB of this professional student population is limited.

Evidentiary value: Participants were first year veterinary students (n=322) at the five Canadian veterinary schools and five randomly selected US veterinary schools. An online questionnaire was used to gather students’ demographic information, sources of health and nutrition information, and information-seeking attitudes and perceptions. This study may impact practice at the institutional level for veterinary educators.

Methods: STATA 15.1© was used for quantitative analysis; involving multivariate logistic regression models, univariate analyses, and measures of frequency.

Results: Results indicated high reliance on the Internet for personal health 213/322 (66%) and nutrition 196/322 (61%) information. While respondents revealed high trust levels in dietary recommendations from family doctors, 132/322 (41%) of students revealed their doctor did not provide any information on healthy diets. Students who reported the use of peer-reviewed journal articles for personal nutrition information were at greater odds of having confidence in knowing where to find nutrition information (Odds Ratio [OR] = 6.61, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Participating students reported a high reliance on the Internet search engine Google, and a general lack of guidance from medical professionals regarding general health needs.

Application: Veterinary schools should consider this information to enhance student information literacy skills, particularly to facilitate personal HISB, and consequently help in management of personal health throughout the growing demands of the programme.

 

Open Access Peer Reviewed

Author Biographies

Shelby A. Nielson, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

BSc (hons), MSc, PhD student, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada

May K. Kamleh

PhD, Disease Control Epidemiologist, Harris County Public Health, 2223 W Loop South, Houston, TX, 77018 USA

Peter D. Conlon, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

DVM, PhD, MEd, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada

Jennifer E. McWhirter, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

BSc, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada

Elizabeth A. Stone, North Carolina State University

DVM, MS, MPP, DACVS, previous Dean and currently Professor Emerita, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada, and Professor Emerita, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607 USA

Deep K. Khosa, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

BSc, BVMS, MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine), PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada, and Academic Coordinator, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Primary Healthcare Centre, University of Guelph, 45 McGilvray Street, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada

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