van Loon JPAM, de Grauw JC, van Dierendonck MC, Burden F, Rickards K. Objective assessment of chronic pain in donkeys using the Donkey Chronic Pain Scale.
Vet Anaesth Analg 2024;
51:531-538. [PMID:
39142979 DOI:
10.1016/j.vaa.2024.05.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To clinically evaluate previously developed pain scales [Donkey Chronic Pain Composite Pain Scale (DCP-CPS), Donkey Chronic Pain Facial Assessment of Pain (DCP-FAP) and combined Donkey Chronic Pain Scale (DCPS)], including behavioural and facial expression-based variables, for the assessment of chronic pain in donkeys.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective, blinded clinical study.
ANIMAL
A group of 77 donkeys (34 patients and 43 healthy control animals).
METHODS
Animals were assessed by two observers that were blinded to the condition of the animals.
RESULTS
Both DCP-CPS and DCP-FAP, and resulting combined DCPS scores, showed good interobserver reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.86-0.95, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.71, CI = 0.50-0.83, p < 0.001 and ICC = 0.84, CI = 0.72-0.91, p < 0.001, respectively]. All scores (DCP-CPS, DCP-FAP and the resulting combined DCPS) were significantly higher for patients than for controls at all time points (p < 0.001 for all three scales). Sensitivity and specificity for identification of pain (cut-off value >3) was 73.0% and 65.1% for DCP-CPS, and 60.9% and 83.3% for DCP-FAP, respectively. For the combined DCPS, sensitivity was 87.0% and specificity 90.9% (cut-off value >6).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Based on behavioural and facial expression-based variables, DCPS proved a promising and reproducible tool to assess different types of chronic pain in donkeys. The combination of behavioural and facial expression-based variables showed the best discriminatory characteristics in the current study. Further studies are needed for refinement of these tools.
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