Development of a behaviour-based measurement tool with defined intervention level for assessing acute pain in cats

Calvo, G., Holden, E., Reid, J., Scott, E.M. , Firth, A., Bell, A. , Robertson, S. and Nolan, A.M. (2014) Development of a behaviour-based measurement tool with defined intervention level for assessing acute pain in cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 55(12), pp. 622-629. (doi: 10.1111/jsap.12280) (PMID:25470416)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To develop a composite measure pain scale tool to assess acute pain in cats and derive an intervention score.<p></p> METHODS: To develop the prototype composite measure pain scale-feline, words describing painful cats were collected, grouped into behavioural categories and ranked. To assess prototype validity two observers independently assigned composite measure pain scale-feline and numerical rating scale scores to 25 hospitalised cats before and after analgesic treatment. Following interim analysis the prototype was revised (revised composite measure pain scale-feline). To determine intervention score, two observers independently assigned revised composite measure pain scale-feline and numerical rating scale scores to 116 cats. A further observer, a veterinarian, stated whether analgesia was necessary.<p></p> RESULTS: Mean ± sd decrease in revised composite measure pain scale-feline and numerical rating scale scores following analgesia were 2 · 4 ± 2 · 87 and 1 · 9 ± 2 · 34, respectively (95% confidence interval for mean change in revised composite measure pain scale-feline between 1 · 21 and 3 · 6). Changes in revised composite measure pain scale-feline and numerical rating scale were significantly correlated (r = 0 · 8) (P < 0001). Intervention level score of ≥4/16 was derived for revised composite measure pain scale-feline (26 · 7% misclassification) and ≥3/10 for numerical rating scale (14 · 5% misclassification).<p></p> CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A valid instrument with a recommended analgesic intervention level has been developed to assess acute clinical pain in cats that should be readily applicable in practice.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bell, Mr Andrew and Scott, Professor Marian and Firth, Dr Ava and Reid, Professor Jacky and Calvo, Ms Gillian
• Authors: Calvo, G., Holden, E., Reid, J., Scott, E.M., Firth, A., Bell, A., Robertson, S., and Nolan, A.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Statistics
• Journal Name: Journal of Small Animal Practice
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0022-4510
• ISSN (Online): 1748-5827
• Published Online: 03 December 2014