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Dr. Wil D. Cat has a research team that is kind, compassionate, and cares deeply for the animals in their care. Dr. Wil D. Cat desired these characteristics in their staff to ensure animal welfare is maintained with high efficacy and their studies have reproducibility. Dr. Wil D. Cat wants to be proactive to ensure their research team is prepared for instances where grief may arise while working with research animals. What are some things that Dr. Wil D. Cat can do pre-emptively or when they notice signs of burnout?
A. Offering education relative to humane animal care use and ethics. This could include highlights of findings and scientific advancements discovered thanks to animal studies.
B. Refer individuals to their designated employee assistance (EAP) program, and additional resources such as the Cost of Caring article published by AALAS.
C. Establish an open-door policy with staff to ensure they feel comfortable discussing any issues that arise.
D. All of the above are ways to proactively reduce the likelihood of emotional strain, grief, or burnout for their staff.
E. None of the above, mental health related issues are solely the responsibility of each individual employee.
Dr. Wil D. Cat has a research team that is kind, compassionate, and cares deeply for the animals in their care. Dr. Wil D. Cat desired these characteristics in their staff to ensure animal welfare is maintained with high efficacy and their studies have reproducibility. Dr. Wil D. Cat wants to be proactive to ensure their research team is prepared for instances where grief may arise while working with research animals. What are some things that Dr. Wil D. Cat can do pre-emptively or when they notice signs of burnout?
A. Offering education relative to humane animal care use and ethics. This could include highlights of findings and scientific advancements discovered thanks to animal studies.
B. Refer individuals to their designated employee assistance (EAP) program, and additional resources such as the Cost of Caring article published by AALAS.
C. Establish an open-door policy with staff to ensure they feel comfortable discussing any issues that arise.
D. All of the above are ways to proactively reduce the likelihood of emotional strain, grief, or burnout for their staff.
E. None of the above, mental health related issues are solely the responsibility of each individual employee.
Learner Feedback: The correct answer is D. Animal research has brought about a multitude of medical advancements for the good of human and animal kind. The regulations for animal care and use do not just specify efficient care but call for the "humane care of animals". Federal mandates require researchers to use procedures that avoid or minimize discomfort, distress, and pain. The research team must ensure that the animals live in conditions that provide for their health and well-being. In addition to providing proper husbandry and management, the humane treatment of animals remains a primary goal in laboratory animal science. Kindness and concern for animals are desirable characteristics of anyone involved in animal research.
However, some people may experience guilt, uneasiness, frustration, and other feelings during a study. Experiencing grief at the death of laboratory animals is not surprising. Euthanasia is a complex and highly emotional issue. Although animals are treated humanely, emotions may be triggered in individuals who are directly or indirectly involved. Similar to human loss, when dealing with the death of an animal, feelings of grief and mourning may be evoked. Knowledge that these feelings exist and providing support in the workplace are important.
The choices outlined within the question are all types of methods for ensuring research staff feel supported during studies. To learn about other methods of providing support, please see the Cost of Caring: Recognizing Human Emotions in the Care of Laboratory Animals.
In addition to these methods, Northwestern University and its affiliates have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) which offer a variety of additional support services. These resources can be found on their respective websites.