MADISON, N.J., Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Animal
Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK),
today released findings of its comprehensive study conducted in
collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) examining the wellbeing and mental health of U.S.
veterinarians. Conducted in the fall of 2021, the wide-ranging
Veterinary Wellbeing Study is the third survey since 2017 and the
first since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with a goal to examine and
bring critical awareness to the challenges impacting the veterinary
profession, while highlighting the impact that the pandemic has on
practitioners and staff. For the first time, the study includes
responses from veterinary technicians and support staff and their
perspectives on the challenges they are currently facing in
work.
From hospital directors and practice owners, to veterinary
technicians and administrative staff, the latest Wellbeing Study
revealed the main barriers impacting those who practice veterinary
medicine are the shortage of qualified staff and the fact that not
all clinic or hospital employees have access to the same mental
health tools as veterinarians. As part of Merck Animal Health's
ongoing commitment to identify the issues impacting veterinary
wellbeing and provide solutions to support industry professionals,
the company pledged to continue its support of AVMA's Workplace
Wellbeing program, "Train-the-Trainer" program, and relevant
resources for veterinary technicians and support staff in the
amount of $100,000 to help develop
tools that advance mental health and wellbeing.
"Veterinary medicine is a profession that comes with the great
satisfaction of caring for animals, but it also includes risk for
mental and physical burnout as well as compassion fatigue," said
Joseph Hahn, DVM, executive
director, U.S. Companion Animal and Equine Professional Services,
Merck Animal Health. "Our third wellbeing study in partnership with
the AVMA is key in defining the underlying turbulence that is
increasing these stressors across the profession, while helping us
identify the most impactful solutions to energize and strengthen
mental health for current and future veterinarians, technicians and
support staff."
While 92% of respondents rated increased stress as one of their
top mental health challenges, 88% cited student debt and concerns
about the risk of suicide as leading stressors for
veterinarians.
"With this new information and our $100,000 grant to develop necessary resources to
promote mental health across the veterinary profession, Merck
Animal Health and the entire veterinary community is optimistic
about our ability to actively provide healthy opportunities in the
most impactful way, while enhancing wellbeing within veterinary
teams," added Dr. Hahn.
Pandemic Challenges Had a Significant Impact on Veterinarian
Support Staff
It is no surprise that the pandemic impacted many veterinarians
and clinic staff, including veterinary technicians, veterinary
assistants, practice managers and client service representatives.
In fact, more than 90% of respondents reported that the shortage of
qualified veterinary staff has been one of the biggest concerns
throughout the pandemic, as was the challenge of providing
veterinary services under the evolving pandemic and industry
conditions (68%).
Adding to these concerns, 81% of staff and 67% of veterinarians
faced challenges with their clinics being short-handed due to
employees spending time away from work for illness or family care.
In addition, both staff and veterinarians emphasized their
anxieties surrounding the risk of increased exposure to COVID-19
(63% and 61%, respectively) and longer work hours (51% and 46%,
respectively).
The percentage of veterinarians with serious psychological
distress has increased to 9.7% in 2021 as measured by the Kessler
Psychological Distress Scale, compared to 6.4% in 2019, due in
large part to the ongoing pandemic. Among staff, the prevalence of
serious psychological distress was nearly twice as high (18.1%). In
addition, half of staff respondents (49.6%) and approximately
one-third (30.5%) of veterinarians reported high levels of
burnout.
"The past two years have been extremely challenging for
veterinarians and their dedicated staff, and we are very grateful
to everyone who contributed to this important study, which gives us
a deeper look into what our colleagues are experiencing," said Dr.
Jose Arce, AVMA president. "The AVMA
has dedicated itself to creating meaningful resources to help
safeguard wellbeing, and this new research will further inform and
support our vital, ongoing work in this critical area. We want our
members to know that the AVMA hears them and is there to support
them, whether it's resources to help veterinarians manage their
practices in this new environment, such as telehealth, or wellbeing
resources to help veterinarians and their teams cope with
stress."
"With this new information and our $100,000 grant to develop necessary resources to
promote mental health across the veterinary profession, including
the veterinary support staff, Merck Animal Health and the entire
veterinary community is optimistic in our ability to actively
provide healthy opportunities in the most impactful way, while
enhancing wellbeing within veterinary teams," added Dr. Hahn.
Two-Thirds of Those who Reported Distress Lack Healthy Stress
Management Plans
Among respondents who reported distress in 2021, only one-third
(33%) indicated that they had healthy methods for dealing with
stress, compared to 81% of those who did not report distress.
Serious psychological distress is more common in veterinarians who
work excessive hours, compared to non-distressed veterinarians who
reported spending more time on healthy, non-work activities, such
as socializing with family and friends or participating in hobbies
and activities.
"Now more than ever, it is clear that veterinary practitioners
and their staff play an essential role caring for the animals we
love and maintaining the human-animal bond. And at Merck Animal
Health, we have unconditional respect for veterinary professionals
and their dedicated service, particularly during these
unconventional times," said Christine
Royal, DVM, associate vice president, U.S. Companion Animal
and Equine, Merck Animal Health. "As a company that supports
veterinarians, including technicians, support staff and emerging
professionals, we are honored to extend our partnership and
wellbeing resources with AVMA. We are committed to protecting the
health and welfare of veterinary professionals and ensuring we
build a robust and engaged profession for the future, with
opportunities such as scholarship funding, wellbeing webinars,
networking opportunities and much more."
Healthy Stress Management Solutions for Veterinary Team
Success
AVMA and Merck Animal Health are devoted to providing techniques
and solutions that improve veterinary mental health and wellbeing,
now and for future generations. Veterinarians and veterinary staff
who responded to the Wellbeing Survey recommend tools, such as
developing stress management plans for their team members;
maintaining a healthy work climate that fosters strong mental
health; and working with a financial planner to help manage student
debt. Social activities that promote teamwork, networking
opportunities for professional development and taking wellbeing
classes also were recommended to improve wellness and aid in stress
management among veterinary professionals. In addition, when asked
what veterinary employers are doing to support wellbeing in the
workplace, they suggested acknowledging and discussing mental
health and wellbeing challenges that are in progress, and providing
the appropriate support in return, including an Employee Assistance
Program and health insurance that covers mental health
treatment.
"We are pleased to partner with Merck Animal Health on this
important work during a time of unprecedented challenge for health
care professionals," said Jen
Brandt, PhD and director of Member Wellbeing & Diversity
Initiatives for the AVMA. "Given this critical need, the AVMA
continues to develop and prioritize resources dedicated to
supporting the wellbeing of Veterinarians and staff, including our
new 'Train-the-Trainer' workshop that empowers veterinary
professionals to become educators and share valuable strategies to
promote workplace wellbeing; as well as a workplace wellbeing
certificate program, assessment tools, podcasts, webinars,
self-care strategies and how and where to get help."
To learn more about Merck Animal Health's unconditional support
of veterinary professionals and their mental wellbeing, visit
www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/responsibility. For veterinary
professionals looking to take advantage of the AVMA's Workplace
Wellbeing program, visit
www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing.
Study Methodology
The third online study was conducted in September and
October 2021 by Brakke Consulting,
Inc., among a nationally representative sample of 2,495
veterinarians in the U.S., both practitioners and
non-practitioners, using standardized research methods. The
objectives were to continue to track wellbeing and mental health of
veterinarians and benchmark findings against physicians and the
U.S. general population of employed adults.
In the 2021 study, practitioner respondents asked to pass along
a special link to full-time staff across practice roles, including
veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, hospital practice
manager, reception/client service representative or other members
of a veterinary clinic's team. A total of 448 completed
questionnaires were returned.
Data were weighted based on age, gender and region of the U.S.
For the sample as a whole, the maximum margin of error is +/- 1.94%
at 95% confidence level.
About AVMA
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest
veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than
99,500 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of
professional activities and dedicated to the art and science of
veterinary medicine.
About Merck Animal Health
For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing
forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most
challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck
& Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J.,
USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through
its commitment to The Science of Healthier
Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers
veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the
widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health
management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of
connected technology that includes identification, traceability and
monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving
and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and
the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and
comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain.
Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its
products are available in some 150 markets. For more information,
visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and
expectations of the company's management and are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions
prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual
results may differ materially from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general
industry conditions and competition; general economic factors,
including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease
(COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and
health care legislation in the United
States and internationally; global trends toward health care
cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents
attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product
development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's
ability to accurately predict future market conditions;
manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of
international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the
effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for
innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including
patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2020
Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's
Internet site (www.sec.gov).
Merck
Media
Contacts:
|
Thomas Schad
+ 1 (913) 667-5537
Thomas.Schad@merck.com
|
AVMA Media
Contact:
|
Mark
Rosati
Mrosati@avma.org
+1 (847)
313-9597
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laurel Mundth
+1 (908) 872-9783
Laurel.Mundth@merck.com
|
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SOURCE Merck & Co., Inc.