Royal Dutch Veterinary Association (KNMvD), Houten, The Netherlands Professional Pension Fund for Veterinarians, Tilburg, The Netherlands
ISBN:978-90-393-6207-5Book design: IS Ontwerp -Ilse Schrauwers, Den Bosch, The Netherlands -www.isontwerp.nl
Printing:Gildeprint Drukkerijen, Enschede, The Netherlands -www.gildeprint.nl
Copyright © N.J.J.M. Mastenbroek 2014. All rights reservedThe copyright of articles that have been published has been transferred to the respective journals.
The arT of sTayiNg eNgagedThe role of personal resources in mental well-being of young veterinary professionals
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IntroductionThe work of the veterinarian has changed during recent decades. Clients are better informed and more demanding, veterinary practices are more competitive, partnerships within and outside the profession have increased and the position of the veterinarian in terms of his or her role in monitoring public health is up for discussion (Vaarkamp, 2009). These changing demands call for veterinarians who are able to integrate knowledge and technical skills with non-technical competencies (especially in the area of communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship) in their professional practice. Research in both veterinary and medical health professions has shown that junior veterinarians as well as junior doctors signal a lack of non-technical, generic, competencies Jaarsma, Dolmans, Scherpbier, & Van Beukelen, 2008; Matheson & Matheson, 2009). Perceived unpreparedness in generic competencies is positively associated with burnout in junior doctors (M. Westerman et al., 2013). Burnout levels from 10 to 21 % among junior doctors might indicate that the challenges they are facing are bigger than they can manage (Prins et al., 2007; M. Westerman et al., 2013). In a review of prospective studies on prevalence and predictors of mental health problems in doctors, Tyssen and Vaglum (2002) conclude that mental health problems were highest during the first postgraduate year. Research into the mental well-being of recently graduated veterinarians is scarce although we know that young and female vets are most at risk for workrelated exhaustion . With increasing numbers of female vets entering the profession, it seems particularly important that the well-being of recently graduated veterinary professionals is carefully monitored. Before we turn to the needs of veterinary and medical professionals in their initial years after graduation we will first consider the current state of research on mental well-being in health care professions in general and veterinary professionals in particular.
Current state of research on mental well-being in health care professionsMental well-being of veterinarians in general has been reported as a main concern in the United Kingdom Fritschi, Morrison, Shirangi, & Day, 2009), New Zealand (Gardner & Hini, 2006, Australia (Meehan & Bradley, 2007), Finland and Belgium . When studying the literature on mental well-being and its predictors among veterinary professionals there are...