Abstract
ContextPublication bias jeopardizes evidence-based medicine, mainly through biased literature syntheses. Publication bias may also affect laboratory animal research, but evidence is scarce.ObjectivesTo assess the opinion of laboratory animal researchers on the magnitude, drivers, consequences and potential solutions for publication bias. And to explore the impact of size of the animals used, seniority of the respondent, working in a for-profit organization and type of research (fundamental, pre-clinical, or both) on those opinions.DesignInternet-based survey.SettingAll animal laboratories in The Netherlands.ParticipantsLaboratory animal researchers.Main Outcome Measure(s)Median (interquartile ranges) strengths of beliefs on 5 and 10-point scales (1: totally unimportant to 5 or 10: extremely important).ResultsOverall, 454 researchers participated. They considered publication bias a problem in animal research (7 (5 to 8)) and thought that about 50% (32–70) of animal experiments are published. Employees (n = 21) of for-profit organizations estimated that 10% (5 to 50) are published. Lack of statistical significance (4 (4 to 5)), technical problems (4 (3 to 4)), supervisors (4 (3 to 5)) and peer reviewers (4 (3 to 5)) were considered important reasons for non-publication (all on 5-point scales). Respondents thought that mandatory publication of study protocols and results, or the reasons why no results were obtained, may increase scientific progress but expected increased bureaucracy. These opinions did not depend on size of the animal used, seniority of the respondent or type of research.ConclusionsNon-publication of “negative” results appears to be prevalent in laboratory animal research. If statistical significance is indeed a main driver of publication, the collective literature on animal experimentation will be biased. This will impede the performance of valid literature syntheses. Effective, yet efficient systems should be explored to counteract selective reporting of laboratory animal research.
Highlights
Publication bias jeopardizes evidence-based medicine through biased literature syntheses of clinical studies. [1,2] It is conceivable that non-publication practices affect laboratory animal research too.[3,4,5,6] In particular, non-reporting of ‘‘negative’’ research findings may hamper progress in laboratory animal research (LAR) through unnecessary duplications of experiments and may lead to premature first-in-man studies
They considered publication bias a problem in animal research (7 (5 to 8)) and thought that about 50% (32–70) of animal experiments are published
Employees (n = 21) of for-profit organizations estimated that 10% (5 to 50) are published
Summary
Publication bias jeopardizes evidence-based medicine through biased literature syntheses of clinical studies. [1,2] It is conceivable that non-publication practices affect laboratory animal research too.[3,4,5,6] In particular, non-reporting of ‘‘negative’’ research findings may hamper progress in laboratory animal research (LAR) through unnecessary duplications of experiments and may lead to premature first-in-man studies. Publication bias jeopardizes evidence-based medicine through biased literature syntheses of clinical studies. [1,2] It is conceivable that non-publication practices affect laboratory animal research too.[3,4,5,6] In particular, non-reporting of ‘‘negative’’ research findings may hamper progress in laboratory animal research (LAR) through unnecessary duplications of experiments and may lead to premature first-in-man studies. Data on the extent of nonpublication in LAR is scarce.[7,8,9,10] Historically, the outlook on publishing may be different between clinical and laboratory animal research. 6. Overall, what % of ethics-approved experiments performed in experimental animal research is published? 7. Overall, what % of animal experiments you have been involved in have been published on? 8. Do you consider publication bias a problem for experimental animal research? What are important causes of non-publication in experimental animal research?
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