Use of sources of final-year veterinary students to answer clinical research questions

Abstract

Objective Until now, sources used by final-year veterinary students to develop clinical questions have not yet been investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to record the use of sources by final-year veterinary students. This data should assist with the improvement of future veterinary teaching and enable it to meet the needs of students and veterinarians.

Material and methods For this purpose, the use of sources by 172 students in the compulsory development of a clinical question was evaluated.

Results The most frequently cited sources were textbooks (37.7%), lecture notes (27.0%), websites (15.4%), professional articles (11.8%), scientific papers (7.8%), and, least frequently, the category of legal texts (0.3%).

Conclusion This study demonstrates that students primarily use sources with which they are familiar from their studies. Educators should be aware of this and design their lecture materials accordingly.

Clinical relevance Teaching students competence in the use of scientific literature is a task for teachers in the future.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel Ziel der durchgeführten Untersuchung war es, die Quellennutzung von Studierenden am Ende ihres veterinärmedizinischen Studiums zu erfassen. Die Daten sollen dabei helfen, die veterinärmedizinische Lehre in Zukunft so zu verbessern, dass sie den Bedürfnissen von Studierenden und Tierärzten entspricht.

Material und Methoden Dazu wurde die Quellennutzung bei der verpflichtenden Erarbeitung einer klinischen Fragestellung von 172 Studierenden ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse Als Quellen wurden am häufigsten Lehrbücher (37,7%), Vorlesungsunterlagen (27,0%), Websites (15,4%), Fachartikel (11,8%), wissenschaftliche Arbeiten (7,8%) und am seltensten die Kategorie der Rechtstexte (0,3%) genannt.

Schlussfolgerung Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass Studierende vor allem Quellen nutzen, mit denen sie aus dem Verlauf ihres Studiums vertraut sind. Lehrende sollten sich dessen bewusst sein und ihre Vorlesungsunterlagen entsprechend gestalten.

Klinische Relevanz Eine Kompetenzvermittlung bei der Verwendung von Primärliteratur ist eine Aufgabe für Lehrende in Zukunft.

Key words

Learning resources - veterinary medical education - clinical cases - information seeking behaviour

Schlüsselwörter

Literaturnutzung - veterinärmedizinische Lehre - klinische Fälle - Rechercheverhalten

Publication History

Received: 26 April 2023

Accepted: 16 August 2023

Article published online:
27 February 2024

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