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Bara M, Joffe AR. The methodological quality of animal research in critical care: the public face of science. Ann Intensive Care. 2014;4:26doi: 10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8.
Bara, M., & Joffe, A. R. (2014). The methodological quality of animal research in critical care: the public face of science. Annals of intensive care, 426. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8
Bara, Meredith, and Joffe, Ari R. "The methodological quality of animal research in critical care: the public face of science." Annals of intensive care vol. 4 (2014): 26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8
Bara M, Joffe AR. The methodological quality of animal research in critical care: the public face of science. Ann Intensive Care. 2014 Jul 29;4:26. doi: 10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8. eCollection 2014. PMID: 25114829; PMCID: PMC4126494.
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Ann Intensive Care. 2014 Jul 29;4:26. doi: 10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8. eCollection 2014.

The methodological quality of animal research in critical care: the public face of science.

Annals of intensive care

Meredith Bara, Ari R Joffe

Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2R3, Alberta, Canada.
  2. Department of Pediatrics, 4-546 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton T6G 1C9, Alberta, Canada.

PMID: 25114829 PMCID: PMC4126494 DOI: 10.1186/s13613-014-0026-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Animal research (AR) findings often do not translate to humans; one potential reason is the poor methodological quality of AR. We aimed to determine this quality of AR reported in critical care journals.

METHODS: All AR published from January to June 2012 in three high-impact critical care journals were reviewed. A case report form and instruction manual with clear definitions were created, based on published recommendations, including the ARRIVE guidelines. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Seventy-seven AR publications were reviewed. Our primary outcome (animal strain, sex, and weight or age described) was reported in 52 (68%; 95% confidence interval, 56% to 77%). Of the 77 publications, 47 (61%) reported randomization; of these, 3 (6%) reported allocation concealment, and 1 (2%) the randomization procedure. Of the 77 publications, 31 (40%) reported some type of blinding; of these, disease induction (2, 7%), intervention (7, 23%), and/or subjective outcomes (17, 55%) were blinded. A sample size calculation was reported in 4/77 (5%). Animal numbers were missing in the Methods section in 16 (21%) publications; when stated, the median was 32 (range 6 to 320; interquartile range, 21 to 70). Extra animals used were mentioned in the Results section in 31 (40%) publications; this number was unclear in 23 (74%), and >100 for 12 (16%). When reporting most outcomes, numbers with denominators were given in 35 (45%), with no unaccounted numbers in 24 (31%), and no animals excluded from analysis in 20 (26%). Most (49, 64%) studies reported >40, and another 19 (25%) reported 21 to 40 statistical comparisons. Internal validity limitations were discussed in 7 (9%), and external validity (to humans) discussed in 71 (92%), most with no (30, 42%) or only a vague (9, 13%) limitation to this external validity mentioned.

CONCLUSIONS: The reported methodological quality of AR was poor. Unless the quality of AR significantly improves, the practice may be in serious jeopardy of losing public support.

Keywords: Animal research; Critical care; Intensive care; Methodology

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