Step-by-Step Search Guide

• Step 2: Select keywords and concepts

Keywords are typically found in the title, abstract and descriptor fields of a citation. In a Three Rs literature search they will relate to both the scientific topic under study (e.g. cardiology, rats) and possible alternative methods (e.g. analgesia, cellular).

Search concepts are short combinations of keywords (for example relating to the animal model or expected experimental outcome). Non-specific concepts like “animal testing alternative” and “animal use alternative” may not be useful search terms in many databases.

To generate keywords and concepts:

1. review gathered pre-search information
2. consider all synonyms and different spellings of keywords (e.g. "liver cells" and "hepatocytes", “anaesthesia” and “anesthesia”, “haemoglobin” and “hemoglobin”)
3. review one of the following online lists of Three Rs-related search terms:
   
   • Fund for the Replacement of Animal in Medical Experiments (FRAME) (n.d.) Planning a Search: Search Terms and Strategies.
     - provides guidance on selecting search terms and a list of Three Rs-related terms
   • Animal Welfare Information Center (n.d.) Animal Use Alternatives Thesaurus Terminology - Alphabetical Listing.
   • European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) (n.d.) ECVAM Database Service on Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments.
     - choose Thesaurus from upper right hand corner of screen