Percepção dos alunos de medicina veterinária sobre o uso de animais em aulas práticas

Abstract: The perception of veterinary medicine students about the use of animals in practical classes was analyzed through the application of a questionnaire with objective and discursive questions. The objective of this work was not to judge the use of animals, but to understand how students perceive this practice. One hundred and trirty students from 16 higher education institutions (HEIs) participated in the study, covering six Brazilian states and the Federal District. Most were female (80%) and they had between 18 and 27 years old (87%). The majority (80.7%) of students reported that teachers do not ask if there is any objection to participating in practical classes with animals, and the minority of students (16.2%) reported that they would refuse to participate practical classes with live animals. As for the contribution of animals in practical classes, 81.5% of students believe that animals are indispensable in practical classes, being statistically higher in public HEIs, and 76.9% of students think that the student cannot be well prepared without using animals also being statistically higher in public HEIs. Mannequins and dolls were the most cited alternative methods. The percentage of students who believe that alternative methods are effective for learning and the percentage of students who would like alternative methods to be applied is statistically higher in private HEIs.