Animal Research in Otorhinolaryngology: Shifts in Publication and Practice Over Two Time Periods

The aim of this bibliometric analysis is to assess the evolving trends in animal research in otorhinolaryngology over two different time periods.

Articles published in the Science Citation Index Expanded general otorhinolaryngology journals in 2005-2007 and 2018-2020 were retrieved. The relationship of these studies to the Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3Rs) principles, emphasizing evidence of Reduction, and Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines were examined, and the predominant subspecialties and the contributions of journals and countries were evaluated. Keyword, research focus, and citation analyses were performed using VOSviewer.

Despite a 51.8% increase in the total number of publications between the two study periods, the number of animal studies decreased by 41.5%, along with a 49.1% reduction in the number of animals used. In vivo studies lacking reported animal numbers constituted 10.9% in the first period and 10.3% in the second. "Cochlea" and "ototoxicity" were the most frequent keywords, with seven of the top ten appearing in both periods. Although 58.6% of the animal studies received ten or fewer citations, The Laryngoscope published the most animal studies and was the most-cited journal.

This study underscores the importance of adopting the 3Rs and enhancing adherence to guidelines such as ARRIVE. Evaluating the outcomes of animal studies will be essential for responsible and impactful research in otorhinolaryngology. By revealing current research focuses, leading journals, and countries, this study also presents clues for future animal research in the field.