A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF VETERINARY STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES .2. VIEWS OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION

Objective To examine the development of attitudes and opinions relatin g to the veterinary profession. Design Longitudinal study. Population Students, 154 in all, who began studying veterinary science at The Uni versity of Queensland in 1985 and 1986. Procedure Questionnaires were completed in the first and fifth year of the course and in the second year after graduation. The data were analysed using the SAS System for Windows. Results Few changes in opinion over time were found on the r ole of the profession, or on the status and prestige of veterinarians. Changes did occur in views on the characteristics of a successful vet erinarian, with increases in the perceived importance of interpersonal skills, and of the capacity to work hard, and decreases in the percei ved importance of honesty and integrity, dedication and the prevention of cruelty. Attitudes hardened over time in relation to costs of trea tment, non-payment of fees and availability out of hours. Individuals changed their opinion on whether to counsel or report an incompetent c olleague, but the changes in one direction were approximately equal to those in the opposite direction. Conclusions The attitudes and opinio ns of veterinary graduates result from experiences before and during t heir veterinary course. In general the perceived importance of interpe rsonal skills increases during the course, and the level of altruism d ecreases.