Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare: A Mouse Handling Case Study

Abstract

The housing and handling of laboratory animals involved in research can affect their welfare, and potentially the quality of scientific data produced. Despite evidence-based proposals for welfare refinements, the adoption of new practices can be slow and inconsistent, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of implementation barriers. I applied approaches from health psychology to understand the barriers to using tunnel handling when handling mice in university research facilities. Using the Theoretical Domains Framework, I conducted a systematic exploration of potential behavioural determinants for intervention. Initial activities, including shadowing and informal interviews, provided valuable insights into preliminary barriers and facilitators at organisational and individual level. A subsequent online survey across seven universities and interviews with technicians indicated that most people working with animals in these facilities predominantly employ low stress handling methods for routine handling. However, when mice are at risk of escaping, or have escaped, participants reported feeling that tail capture is necessary. Interview participants stated that handling escapes is not addressed in their institution’s mouse handling training. Using stakeholder engagement, I designed an intervention to build technicians’ confidence and knowledge of using tunnel handling in various escape scenarios. A video training was developed with an experienced handler who demonstrated how to recapture mice in a controlled setting using tunnel handling. The intervention was delivered to a sample of technicians where it was tested for acceptability and feasibility. Results indicated increased confidence and intentions to use the demonstrated methods for future escapes. As mice are the most widely used species in laboratory research, this interdisciplinary work has the potential to improve the welfare of many mice, if the intervention is further refined. Moreover, this thesis provides a blueprint for systematically exploring animal welfare concerns using interdisciplinary methodologies, whilst promoting the exploration of issues across both individual and organisational level.