A Qualitative Assessment of California's Continuing Veterinary Medical Education Needs, and a Practice Audit Defining the Scope and Nature of California's Veterinary Medicine Delivery System
Donald Klingborg, Veterinary Medicine Extension, UC Davis; Dale Moore, VMTRC, Tulare; Jim Brenner, DANR; The California Veterinary Medical Association
Focus groups provide specific information to elucidate the beliefs of target audiences and to determine their range of thought, providing valuable insight about their motivations and preferences. The focus group research is privately funded and represents the first scholarly needs assessment for California's Continuing Veterinary Medical Education Program. Interviews of focus groups of 6–12 selected representatives among veterinarians and veterinary staff were accomplished in the summer of 1998. Seventeen focus groups, including food animal, equine, mixed, small animal, and veterinary support staff, were facilitated and replicated across California. Focus group interviews were taped, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative techniques. Expected outcomes include improved insight and a survey of key questions relating to the structure of future Continuing Veterinary Medical Education programs to meet California's needs.
The practice audit is a collaborative effort with the California Veterinary Medical Association to define the scope and nature of the veterinary delivery system in California. The audit will include a survey of every veterinary practice in the state. It is expected to accurately tell us about the animal health care system that exists and how veterinarians spend their time in practice.
Impacts:

In this first scholarly needs assessment for California's Continuing Veterinary Medical Education, the resulting definition of the range of needs, as perceived by the audience, together with a follow-up survey, will provide essential information needed by providers to develop educational programs capable of meeting future needs.

A definition of the veterinary delivery system in California will provide critical information previously unavailable to serve planning and evaluation needs.