Humane teaching methods prove efficacious within veterinary and other biomedical education

Animal use resulting in harm or death remains common within veterinary education, in disciplines such as surgery, physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology, and parasitology. However, many non-harmful alternatives now exist, including computer simulations, high quality videos, 'ethically-sourced cadavers,' such as from animals euthanized for medical reasons, preserved specimens, models and surgical simulators, non-invasive self-experimentation, and supervised clinical experiences. Studies of veterinary students were reviewed comparing learning outcomes generated by non-harmful teaching methods with those achieved through harmful animal use. Of eleven published from 1989 to 2006, nine assessed the acquisition of surgical skills. 45.5% (5/11) demonstrated superior learning outcomes using more humane alternatives. Another 45.5% (5/11) demonstrated equivalent learning outcomes, and 9.1% (1/11) demonstrated inferior learning outcomes. Twenty one studies of non-veterinary students in related academic disciplines were also published from 1968 to 2004. 38.1% (8/21) demonstrated superior, 52.4% (11/21) demonstrated equivalent, and 9.5% (2/21) demonstrated inferior learning outcomes using humane alternatives. Twenty nine papers in which comparison with harmful animal use did not occur illustrated additional benefits of humane teaching methods within veterinary and other biomedical education. Educators can best serve their students and animals, while minimizing financial and time burdens, by introducing well-designed teaching methods not reliant on harmful animal use.