Potential Sources of Stress in Students at a UK Veterinary School Prior to Abattoir Visits

Abattoir visits are an important educational experience for veterinary students but can cause anticipatory stress and anxiety that potentially inhibit learning. This study investigated sources of stress and anxiety among UK veterinary students in anticipation of an initial abattoir visit. A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to identify key stressors and associated severity from 73 participants. Study findings revealed three principal stressor categories: witnessing the slaughtering process, exposure to aversive sensory stimuli, and unpleasant individual psychological and/or physical reactions. Study findings can inform structured preparatory activities to help students manage anticipatory distress and enhance the pedagogical value of abattoir visits.