Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals
Nonaversive or low stress handling techniques can reduce fear and stress in research rodents, ultimately improving study data quality. Uptake of low stress handling has been slow in the USA and Canada. In this study we explored the understanding, experience, and attitudes toward low stress handling...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1040572/full |
| _version_ | 1811205589625208832 |
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| author | Carly I. O'Malley Raina Hubley Carly Moody Patricia V. Turner Patricia V. Turner |
| author_facet | Carly I. O'Malley Raina Hubley Carly Moody Patricia V. Turner Patricia V. Turner |
| author_sort | Carly I. O'Malley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nonaversive or low stress handling techniques can reduce fear and stress in research rodents, ultimately improving study data quality. Uptake of low stress handling has been slow in the USA and Canada. In this study we explored the understanding, experience, and attitudes toward low stress handling of rats and mice in laboratory animal professionals from the USA (US) and Canada (CA). Participants (n = 40) were recruited for a standardized interview and job categories were divided into veterinary/PhD level roles (doctoral level; DL) and non-veterinary/non-PhD level roles (non-doctoral level, NDL) (US: 23, DL: 9, NDL: 14; CA: 17, DL: 8, and NDL: 9). Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO. Two research assistants independently coded themes for each question and consolidated responses based on commonality. Laboratory animal professionals understood the benefits of low stress handling and training techniques with rats and mice, stating reduced stress, better data, and improved welfare, with CA participants more likely to mention animal welfare as a benefit, and DL more likely to mention improved research data and reduced stress. Participants across demographic groups indicated improved job satisfaction and decreased stress as the positive impacts low stress handling would have on their positions. The primary perceived barriers to low stress handling implementation were researcher attitudes, the time needed to implement and use these techniques, and training personnel to use the techniques properly and consistently. To promote refinement of handling of rats and mice, more educational opportunities on the benefits and implementation of low stress handling techniques need to be provided to laboratory animal professionals, as well as to researchers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:33:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d868b5ad581440b9ab07f7aed525aea2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:33:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d868b5ad581440b9ab07f7aed525aea22022-12-22T03:49:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-12-01910.3389/fvets.2022.10405721040572Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionalsCarly I. O'Malley0Raina Hubley1Carly Moody2Patricia V. Turner3Patricia V. Turner4Global Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, United StatesGlobal Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, United StatesGlobal Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, United StatesGlobal Animal Welfare and Training, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, United StatesDepartment of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaNonaversive or low stress handling techniques can reduce fear and stress in research rodents, ultimately improving study data quality. Uptake of low stress handling has been slow in the USA and Canada. In this study we explored the understanding, experience, and attitudes toward low stress handling of rats and mice in laboratory animal professionals from the USA (US) and Canada (CA). Participants (n = 40) were recruited for a standardized interview and job categories were divided into veterinary/PhD level roles (doctoral level; DL) and non-veterinary/non-PhD level roles (non-doctoral level, NDL) (US: 23, DL: 9, NDL: 14; CA: 17, DL: 8, and NDL: 9). Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO. Two research assistants independently coded themes for each question and consolidated responses based on commonality. Laboratory animal professionals understood the benefits of low stress handling and training techniques with rats and mice, stating reduced stress, better data, and improved welfare, with CA participants more likely to mention animal welfare as a benefit, and DL more likely to mention improved research data and reduced stress. Participants across demographic groups indicated improved job satisfaction and decreased stress as the positive impacts low stress handling would have on their positions. The primary perceived barriers to low stress handling implementation were researcher attitudes, the time needed to implement and use these techniques, and training personnel to use the techniques properly and consistently. To promote refinement of handling of rats and mice, more educational opportunities on the benefits and implementation of low stress handling techniques need to be provided to laboratory animal professionals, as well as to researchers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1040572/fulllow stress handlingattitudesratsmicehuman-animal interactions |
| spellingShingle | Carly I. O'Malley Raina Hubley Carly Moody Patricia V. Turner Patricia V. Turner Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals Frontiers in Veterinary Science low stress handling attitudes rats mice human-animal interactions |
| title | Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| title_full | Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| title_fullStr | Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| title_short | Use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats: Attitudes of American and Canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| title_sort | use of nonaversive handling and training procedures for laboratory mice and rats attitudes of american and canadian laboratory animal professionals |
| topic | low stress handling attitudes rats mice human-animal interactions |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1040572/full |
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