The Level of Animal Welfare Knowledge among Researchers in Indonesia
Sutiastuti Wahyuwardani (*), Prima M Widiyanti, Susan M Noor, Wasito, Lisa Praharani, Bachtar Bakrie

National Research and Innovation Agency, West Java, Indonesia
*suti010[at]brin.go.id

Abstract

Animal care and use in research must be conducted by the principles of animal welfare (AW) to uphold ethical standards, ensure the reliability of research results, maintain animal health, and ensure food safety. A study to determine the level of understanding of researchers about AW has been carried out in several locations where researchers use animals in their research. Data were obtained by distributing a Google Form Base Questionnaire consisting of 28 items on AW to researchers, which were responded to by 88 researchers. The parameters measured were knowledge of AW and every aspect of animal welfare, studying aspects of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), ethical clearance, and animal use and care. The data obtained were then descriptively analyzed and tested using the Kruskal Wallis SPSS 26.0 independent sample program. The researchers^ level of knowledge of AW was at an acceptable level, which differed significantly between locations. The difference in the knowledge level of researchers on AW was due to a difference in understanding of the use and care of animals at the acceptable level differs markedly between locations. In contrast, the knowledge level of researchers on IACUC aspects at the good level and of ethical clearance aspects at the low level did not show a significant difference between locations. It is recommended that training is needed to improve the knowledge of researchers on animal welfare.

Keywords: Animal, welfare, knowledge, research

Topic: Animal Health and Welfare