Factors influencing equine veterinarians' job satisfaction and retention: A focus group study

• DOI: 10.1111/evj.14467
• Publication Date: 2025-01-10T09:03:00Z
• Authors: Kristen Whitaker; Audrey Burnette; Jean‐Yin Tan; Meggan Graves; Julie Hunt; Elizabeth Devine; Stacy Anderson; Katherine Kirkendall; Lauren Wisnieski
• Keywords: Snowball sampling

Abstract Background There is a shortage of equine veterinarians. Understanding what factors are associated with job satisfaction in veterinarians can inform interventions to increase retention medicine. Objective To explore the prominent causing work dissatisfaction and burnout Study design Qualitative research study consisting semi‐structured focus groups. Methods Thirty‐seven current former across United States were recruited via snowball convenience sampling answer questions on history, work–life balance, perceptions practice. Transcripts analysed Delve coded context Conservation Resources (COR) theory. A card sorting activity was used rank four types resources COR theory (condition, object, energy, personal). Results Condition most frequently mentioned reasons for dissatisfaction. These included issues discrimination or bias due age, race/ethnicity, gender, unpredictable long hours, heavy workloads. Object resources, such as equipment, rarely mentioned. Energy including pay student loan debt, influential, participants feeling that underpaid. Personal problem‐solving skills enjoyment helping others, improved satisfaction. Main limitations Although recruiting efforts prioritised perspectives black, indigenous, people colour, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus identities, members disabilities, demographic information not directly collected. Conclusions The main barriers veterinary lack lower‐than‐expected pay, bias. This highlights areas intervention improve field, higher rural practice incentives, effective diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging (DEIB) efforts. shift toward caseload‐sharing between could help alleviate excessive emergency on‐call burnout.