Animal use resulting in harm or death has historically
played an integral role in veterinary education, in
disciplines such as surgery, physiology, biochemistry,
anatomy, pharmacology, and parasitology. However, the
last decade has seen a rapid increase in the availability
of non-harmful alternatives, such as computer
simulations, high quality videos, ‘ethically-sourced
cadavers’ such as those from animals euthanized for
medical reasons, preserved specimens, models and surgical
simulators, non-invasive self-experimentation and
supervised clinical experiences. However, veterinary
students seeking to use such methods often face strong
opposition from faculty members, who usually cite
concerns about their teaching efficacy. Consequently,
this presentation reviews educational studies comparing
learning outcomes of veterinary students generated by
non-harmful teaching methods with those achieved by
harmful animal use.
Of eleven studies published from 1989 to 2006, nine
assessed surgical training—historically the discipline
involving greatest harmful animal use. 45.5% (5/11)
demonstrated superior learning outcomes using more humane
alternatives. 45.5% (5/11) demonstrated equivalent
learning outcomes, and only one study (9.1%) demonstrated
inferior learning outcomes using humane alternatives.
Twenty nine additional studies in which comparison with
harmful animal use did not occur illustrated other
benefits of humane teaching methods in veterinary
education, namely; time and cost savings, increased
repeatability and flexibility of use, customization of
the laboratory experience, more active learning,
facilitation of autonomous and life-long learning,
improved attitudes towards computers and alternatives to
animal use, and increased employer perception of computer
literacy.
The results indicate that veterinary educators can best
serve their students and animals, while minimizing
financial and time burdens upon their faculties, by
introducing well-designed teaching methods not reliant
upon harmful animal use.
Further infomation.