Evaluation of the entrepreneurial potential of the clinical veterinarians using the Turkish version of the entrepreneurial potential assessment inventory (EPAI-TR)

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to determine the unique values of the entrepreneurial potential of clinical veterinarians and to evaluate this potential by using a reliable and valid measurement tool. The study material was the data obtained from a survey conducted between May 2020 and April 2021 that included 343 veterinarians who were actively working in a veterinarian clinic/outpatient clinic. The Turkish version of the Entrepreneurial Potential Assessment Inventory was used to collect the data. On the basis of the results of the explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and improvement (modification) indices calculated from the survey data, a 7-factor structure was obtained. According to the results of the entrepreneurial potential scale for clinical veterinarians, the following sub-dimensions of the scale were listed according to their contribution to the total variance explained: “effective communicative leadership,” “strategic resource development,” “self-efficacy,” “innovative creativity,” “resilience-strength,” “motivation for economic freedom,” and “risk-taking propensity.” This ranking reveals a tendency to possess these characteristics in Türkiye for entrepreneurship potential regardless of the profession. In light of the obtained data, it is recommended to provide clinical veterinarians with training on the topics of forming social networks, taking responsibility, and developing emotional intelligence, which is not included in the scale, as well as to instigate the desire to become independent and economically motivated to improve their entrepreneurial potential. RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar os valores exclusivos do potencial empreendedor dos veterinários clínicos e avaliar esse potencial usando uma ferramenta de medição confiável e válida. O material do estudo foram os dados obtidos em uma pesquisa realizada entre maio de 2020 e abril de 2021, que incluiu 343 veterinários que trabalhavam ativamente em uma clínica veterinária/ambulatório. A versão turca do Inventário de Avaliação do Potencial Empreendedor foi usada para coletar os dados. Com base nos resultados da análise fatorial explicativa, da análise fatorial confirmatória e dos índices de melhoria (modificação) calculados a partir dos dados da pesquisa, foi obtida uma estrutura de sete fatores. De acordo com os resultados da escala de potencial empreendedor para veterinários clínicos, as seguintes subdimensões da escala foram listadas de acordo