A Mixed-Methods Survey of Veterinary Ethics Teaching in Turkey

Abstract

With the growth of interest in veterinary ethics, the teaching of ethics to veterinary students has become more important. This study collects comprehensive data about ethics education at veterinary faculties in Turkey to contribute to the international literature. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design is used to collect data via questionnaire. Of the 31 faculty members actively teaching ethics at 24 of the 29 veterinary faculties in Turkey (as of the end of 2021), 30 responded to the survey. By the end of 2021, ethics courses in 24 veterinary faculties in Turkey were conducted between the 7th and 10th semesters with similar content across the examined institutions. Of the 31 faculty members responsible for ethics education, 22 were ethicists. Theoretical lectures and multiple-choice tests were the most preferred methods for teaching and assessment. The most preferred learning outcome to be gained by students was ethical awareness. Integrity by ethicists and morality by faculty members from other departments were considered the most important virtues. The collected qualitative data regarding the strengths of ethics education and areas for improvement were varied and controversial. Ethics training should be an ongoing process throughout veterinary education. Applied ethics education should be comprehensively included in the curricula and carried out with the cooperation of faculty members working in clinical fields.