‘Don’t run with scissors’: an investigation into veterinary safety culture
Publication Date
July 27, 2026
Creator
Abstract
Objectives
Veterinary safety culture is traditionally associated with key elements such as checklists and the promotion of a just culture. However, there are additional factors likely to contribute to the reduction of avoidable harm to both staff and patients. This study aimed to map existing literature on safety culture and conduct a qualitative analysis to explore perceptions and practices within veterinary safety culture.
Methods
A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted across five online databases. Publications were assessed against eligibility criteria, and data were extracted from research articles, opinion pieces, case reports, and posters, categorised by subcultures/domains. The review was registered with Open Science Framework. Additionally, a qualitative study was conducted to gather in-depth insights from UK veterinary professionals. A total of 14 semi-structured interviews with vets and Registered Veterinary Nurses and a focus group with three fourth-year veterinary students were conducted both online and in-person from January to February 2024. An inductive coding technique and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, leading to the development of key themes.
Results
The scoping review identified 1500 publications, with 106 meeting the inclusion criteria: 58 opinion pieces, 42 research articles, 5 case reports, and 1 poster. The literature predominantly focused on checklists and the just subculture (45 and 47 articles), while teamwork (6 articles) and patient-centred approaches (3 articles) were least discussed. Publications discussing staff safety were sparse, accounting for 16 out of 106 publications. The qualitative study revealed four themes: understanding, operational aspects, control, and risk. Participants highlighted the importance of communication, leadership, and lifelong learning in developing a positive safety culture. Additionally, issues of decision-making autonomy, and appropriate accountability were identified as significant concerns to the implementation of safety culture measures. It was further revealed that patient safety was often prioritised at the expense of personal safety, highlighting an inadequate focus on staff safety.
Conclusions
The findings from the scoping review and qualitative analysis suggest deficiencies in the comprehension and application of safety culture, particularly in relation to staff safety and patient-centred approaches. The findings underscore the need for ongoing research and the development of comprehensive, context-specific safety protocols which address the uniqueness of veterinary practice, particularly in farm and equine settings where veterinary staff face different challenges to those in small animal practice. Addressing these deficiencies is vital to mitigating avoidable harm and enhancing overall safety within veterinary practices.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
MRes
Supervisors
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
eprints ID
81048
UoN Repository URI
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Veterinary safety culture - Thesis - Final.pdf
Type
Full-text
Description
Examined
Size
1.98 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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