Table 3. Investigation of existing literature in animal experiments.

Survey contents	Total N = 266	Current students n = 118 (44.4%)	Research staff n = 148 (55.6%)	P value
Whether the reporting quality of the published animal experimental were adequate
adequate	156(58.6)	57(48.3)	99(66.9)	0.004
inadequate	110(41.4)	60(50.8)	50(33.8)
Reporting quality of Published animal experiments (the percentage of inadequate)
1 Background section
1.1 Explain how and why the animal species and model being used can address the scientific objectives and, where appropriate, the study’s relevance to human biology	106(67.9)	36(63.2)	70(70.7)	0.005
1.2 Include sufficient scientific background (including relevant references to previous work) to understand the motivation and context for the study, and explain the experimental approach and rationale.	51(32.7)	23(40.4)	28(28.3)	0.906
2 Method section
2.1 Experimental design-related information, including: The number of experimental and control groups. Any steps taken to minimise the effects of subjective bias when allocating animals to treatment (e.g.,randomisation procedure) and when assessing results (e.g., if done, escribe who was blinded and when). The experimental unit (e.g. a single animal, group, or cage of animals). A time-line diagram or flow chart can be useful to illustrate how complex study designs were carried out.	108(69.2)	36(63.2)	72(72.7)	0.003
2.2 Experimental procedure-related information, including: How (e.g., drug formulation and dose, site and route of administration, anaesthesia and analgesia used [including monitoring], surgical procedure, method of euthanasia). Provide details of any specialist equipment used, including supplier(s). When (e.g., time of day). Where (e.g., home cage, laboratory, water maze). Why (e.g., rationale for choice of specific anaesthetic, route of administration, drug dose used).	103(66.0)	38(66.7)	65(65.7)	0.051
2.3 Animal facilities and feeding and housing conditions, including: Housing (e.g., type of facility, e.g., specific pathogen free (SPF); type of cage or housing; bedding material; number of cage companions; tank shape and material etc. for fish). Husbandry conditions (e.g., breeding programme, light/dark cycle, temperature, quality of water etc. for fish, type of food, access to food and water, environmental enrichment). Welfare-related assessments and interventions that were carried out before, during, or after the experiment.	99(63.5)	30(52.6)	69(69.7)	0.000
2.4 Experimental animal-related information, including: Provide details of the animals used, including species, strain, sex, developmental stage (e.g., mean or median age plus age range), and weight (e.g., mean or median weight plus weight range). Provide further relevant information such as the source of animals, international strain nomenclature, genetic modification status (e.g. knock-out or transgenic), genotype, health/immune status, etc.	90(57.7)	25(43.9)	65(65.7)	0.000
2.5 Sample-size related information, including: Specify the total number of animals used in each experiment and the number of animals in each experimental group. Explain how the number of animals was decided. Provide details of any sample size calculation used. Indicate the number of independent replications of each experiment, if relevant.	76(48.7)	28(49.1)	48(48.5)	0.119
2.6 Statistical analysis-related information, including: Provide details of the statistical methods used for each analysis. Specify the unit of analysis for each dataset (e.g. single animal, group of animals, single neuron). Describe any methods used to assess whether the data met the assumptions of the statistical approach.	70(44.9)	16(28.1)	54(54.5)	0.000
2.7 Experimental outcomes-related information, including: define the primary and secondary experimental outcomes assessed (e.g., cell death, molecular markers, behavioural changes).	32(20.5)	3(5.3)	29(29.3)	0.000
3 Results section
3.1Adverse reaction-related information, including: Give details of all important adverse events in each experimental group. Describe any modifications to the experimental protocols made to reduce adverse events.	85(54.5)	30(52.6)	55(55.6)	0.041
3.2Data analysis-related information, including: Report the number of animals in each group included in each analysis. Report absolute numbers (e.g.10/20, not 50%). If any animals or data were not included in the analysis, explain why.	79(50.6)	18(31.6)	61(61.6)	0.000
3.3Baseline data-related information, including: a. Relevant characteristics and health status in each experimental group animals (e.g., weight, and microbiological status etc.) before treatment or testing (this information can often be tabulated).	53(34.0)	15(26.3)	38(38.4)	0.009
3.4Outcomes and estimation-related information, including: a. the results for each analysis carried out, with a measure of precision (e.g., standard error or confidence interval).	37(23.7)	16(28.1)	21(21.2)	0.883
4 Discussion section
4.1 Limitation of the study, including: any potential sources of bias, any limitations of the animal model, and the imprecision associated with the results	76(48.7)	23(40.4)	53(53.5)	0.003
4.2 Generalisability/translation-related information, including: whether, and how, the findings of this study are likely to translate to other species or systems, including any relevance to human biology.	57(36.5)	16(28.1)	41(41.4)	0.005
4.3Taking account of the student objectives, hypotheses, and the current theory of other literature and relevant studies when interpreting the study results	47(30.1)	16(28.1)	31(31.3)	0.117
4.4 Describe any implications of your experimental methods or findings for the replacement, refinement, or reduction (the 3Rs) of the use of animals in research	44(28.2)	12(21.1)	32(32.3)	0.013
4.5 Funding-related information, including: list all funding sources (including grant number) and the role of the funder(s) in the study.	7(4.5)	1(1.8)	6(6.1)	0.105