Community engagement for training in veterinary public health with a One Health approach
Keywords:
community engagement; education, veterinary; educational measurement; One Health; service-learning; veterinary public healthAbstract
Introduction: Veterinary medical education must integrate disciplinary knowledge with situated experiences that address complex problems from the One Health approach. Community engagement through service-learning is a relevant strategy, although its contribution still needs to be assessed.
Objective: To analyze the contribution of community engagement through service-learning to training in veterinary public health among Veterinary Medicine students.
Methods: Mixed-methods, descriptive and propositional study with fourth- and fifth-year students who took part in community engagement activities within the Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health courses. It included interviews and focus groups, a survey of 94 students, and the analysis of performance in an integrative case-based assessment.
Results: Students valued the activities for their contribution to the integration of theory and practice, the understanding of the professional role, and the development of communication, collaborative work, and empathy. A total of 87% agreed or strongly agreed with the development of skills to plan, implement, and evaluate zoonotic disease control programs. A gap was observed between perceived learning and performance in integrative assessments.
Conclusions: Community engagement through service-learning strengthens training in veterinary public health by linking disciplinary knowledge, transversal skills, and real-world experiences. Assessment models more consistent with the complexity of learning in authentic contexts are recommended.
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