Longitudinal study of veterinarians from entry to the veterinary course to 10 years after graduation: attitudes to work, career and profession

Abstract

Objective To describe the attitudes of veterinarians to their work, career and profession during the 10 years after graduation. Design Longitudinal study of students who started their course at The University of Queensland in 1985 and 1986, and who completed questionnaires in their first and fifth year as students, and after one, five and 10 years as veterinarians. Methods Data from 129 (96%) questionnaires completed after 10 years as a veterinarian were coded numerically then analysed, together with data from previous questionnaires, with SAS System 7 for Windows 95. Result After 10 years, almost all respondents were either very glad they had done the veterinary course (57%) or gener‐ally glad, though with some misgivings (37%). Despite this, Conclusions Most veterinarians were glad to have done the veterinary course, but for about one‐quarter their career had not lived up to expectations and almost half would not do