Endorsement of Animal Research: Incorporation of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) Guidelines/Gold Standard Publication Checklist (GSPC) by Chinese journals: a survey of journals’ instructions for authors and editors

Article type
Authors
Zhang T1, Yang J2, Bai X2, Liu HY2, Cheng F2, Ma Z2, Ma B3
1 Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University
2The Second School of Clinical Medicine of Lanzhou University
3Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University
Abstract
Objectives: to determine the rate at which Chinese journals include Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) Guidelines/Gold Standard Publication Checklist (GSPC) in their instructions for authors, and the awareness and recognition of editors.

Methods: we performed the survey on Chinese journals. We downloaded the most recent versions of each journal’s instructions for authors (IFA) and collected the information related to the ARRIVE/GSPC. We used a self-developed questionnaire to conduct the survey among the editors.

Results: we sent questionnaires to 240 qualified journals and 198 of them returned them, achieving an 82.5% response rate. The results showed that none of the journals included the ARRIVE/GSPC in their IFA, and the awareness rate was only 13.1% (26/198). The participants who were unaware of the ARRIVE/GSPC were less likely than those who were aware of them to believe it was necessary to include the ARRIVE/GSPC in the IFA (23.3% versus 61.5%), and less likely to request authors in their manuscript preparation (28.5% versus 88.5%), editors in the editing and processing (28.5% versus 84.6%), and reviewers in peer review stage (28.5% versus 92.3%) to follow the ARRIVE/GSPC.

Conclusions: currently no Chinese journals include the ARRIVE/GSPC in their IFA. The recognition rate of the ARRIVE/GSPC was low among the editors. So, we suggest that Chinese journals should promote inclusion of the ARRIVE/GSPC in journals’ IFA. It is also important to educate researchers and editors alike to increase their understanding of the ARRIVE/GSPC, so that the quality of reporting of animal studies can be improved.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: in order to improve the report quality of animal experimental research, provide reliable basis for clinical research and better service to patients and society.