Applicability, reproducibility, and reliability of the German version of the Glasgow composite measured pain scale – feline during implementation into a small animal clinic

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate reproducibility and practicality of the German version of the Glasgow composite measured pain scale – feline, during its implementation into a German veterinary hospital.

Material and methods The study comprised of 2 parts. Participation of veterinary professionals was voluntary. During part 1, 15 staff members (all rater=AR) with variable clinical experience (nurses, interns, junior clinician, senior clinicians), from 4 disciplines (anesthesia, internal medicine, surgery, neurology), and one main investigator (AC), pain scored 45 diseased cats and 10 healthy cats. Part 2 was an online survey, evaluating the practical experience of participants during part 1 and asking for suggestions to improve the scale and process of pain assessment. For part 1 normal distribution of data was tested by Shapiro-Wilk-Test and histograms. Intrarater and interrater reliability were evaluated by calculating the intraclass-correlation. Statistical analysis of part 2 used descriptive methods.

Results The interrater reliability was moderate (ICC _AR : 0.59) and the intrarater reliability was good (ICC _AC : 0.88). The pain scores of cats with medical (AR: 3.06±2.33, AC 3.52±2.34) and surgical disease (AR: 3.78±2.38, AC: 4.02±2.72) showed no significant difference. All healthy cats were classified as “not painful” (AR: 0.77±0.67, AC: 1.09±0.83). Clinical experience of the rater did not significantly influence pain scores. The GCMPS-F was judged as easy to use and as helpful tool for cats with unclear pain conditions.

Conclusion The GCMPS-F had a good acceptance and moderate interrater reliability.

Clinical Relevance Using the German version of the GCMPS-F, veterinary professionals from different disciplines and with different grades of specialisation can reliably assess pain levels in cats without prior extensive training.

Key words

Pain scale - cat - pain - pain assessment - GCMPS-F

Publication History

Received: 29 June 2023

Accepted: 13 November 2023

Article published online:
27 February 2024

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