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Animal Research Alternatives and Animal Care : Formulating a Search Strategy

A guide for finding alternatives to the use of animals in laboratory research.

2. Formulating a Search Strategy

Below are examples of terms to use singly or in combination to formulate a search strategy. Use wildcard symbols (specific to the database) to retrieve variant endings and alternative spellings of search terms.  Use alternative names such as both the common name and taxonomic name of organisms. Combine terms with AND to narrow a search. Combine terms with OR to broaden a search.

Choose search terms designed to retrieve citations relevant to the 3 Rs. 

 

• alternative • refine • refinement • replace • replacement

• welfare • well-being • humane • euthanasia • euthanize 

• distress • distressful • pain • painful • stress • stressful • relieve • relief

• artificial • cadaver • model • replace • replacement • virtual • vitro • (non-)invasive

• aided/assisted • computers • image • imaging  • interactive • software

• mathematical model(ing) • model(ing) • prediction • simulation • theoretical model(ing)

• statistics • statistical analysis • experimental design • model

• assay • technique • method • procedure • instruction

• training • learn • learning • teaching • education

• anaethesia • anaesthetic • anesthesia •anesthetic • analgesia • analgesic

• anxiolytic • painkiller • sedative • tranquilizer

• postoperative • postsurgery

• cage • caging • environment • enrichment  • housing • husbandry • welfare

• handling • immobilize • restrain • restrict

 

Combining the names of specific procedures, body organ or area of focus, and the animal species with the terms above can increase the success of your literature searches.  Some examples are:

• thoracotomy • induced pancreatitis • sternotomy

• retro-orbital bleed • ascities collection • impact injury

• heart • cardiac • colon • eye • brain • muscle fibers

• mouse • mice• rat • rats • pig • dog • macaque

 

See Tab 3 for some sample search strategies.
See Tab 4 "Searching Databases" for possible databases in which to conduct your search.