Qualitative Exploration of the Hidden Curriculum in Communicating Dog Breed Stereotypes During Veterinary Clinical Training

Abstract

Cultural transmission of breed-specific beliefs about canine pain sensitivity occurs during veterinary education and training. However, breed-specific beliefs held by veterinarians do not align well with experimental measures of pain observed across dog breeds and are unlikely to be helpful in clinical decision making. The aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of how dog breed pain stereotypes are developed and/or reinforced during clinical veterinary training. Non-participant, unobtrusive observations were conducted for a single clinical rotation block across three specialties. Field notes with contextual details were maintained and later transcribed and expanded using personal reflection. A thematic analysis revealed the following three themes: confusion and mixed messages related to instruction about pain; rotation microcultures and norms related to pain; and breed specific messages related to pain identification and treatment decisions. As students processed their social interactions, we suggest that they may have internalized breed stereotypes and used these to inform their perceptions about patient pain. This information will help facilitate the development of training to enhance veterinary medical education and promote best practices for pain identification and management in canine patients.