Why scientists perform animal experiments, scientific or personal aim?
OBJECTIVE
Although all animal studies are conducted in line with a specific purpose, we think that not all animal studies are performed for a scientific purpose but for personal curiosity or to fulfill a requirement. The aim of the present study is to reveal the purposes of experimental studies conducted on animals.


METHODS
We searched for experimental studies performed on rats in general surgery clinics via PubMed, and obtained the e-mail addresses of the corresponding authors for each study. Afterwards, we sent a 7-item questionnaire to the authors and awaited their responses.


RESULTS
Seventy-three (22.2%) of 329 authors responded to the questionnaire. Within these studies, 31 (42.5%) were conducted as part of a dissertation, while the remaining 19 (26.0%) were conducted to meet the academic promotion criteria. Only 23 (31.5%) were conducted for scientific purposes. The cost of 41% of those studies was higher than 2500 $.


CONCLUSIONS
As shown in this study, the main objective of carrying out animal studies in Turkey is usually to prepare a dissertation or to be entitled to academic promotion. Animal experiments must be planned and performed as scientific studies to support related clinical studies. Additionally, animal studies must have well-defined objectives and be carried out in line with scientific purposes that may lead to useful developments in medicine, rather than personal interests.
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Burhan
B
Mayir
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Uğur
U
Doğan
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Tuna
T
Bilecik
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Erdem Can
EC
Yardımcı
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Tuğrul
T
Çakır
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Arif
A
Aslaner
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Yeliz Akpınar
YA
Mayir
Clinic of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Mehmet Tahir
MT
Oruç
Animal experiment; ethics; experimental study; general surgery