• Juliana Tabarelli Brondani, Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna, and Carlos Roberto Padovani.
• Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. jtbrondani@yahoo.com
• Am. J. Vet. Res. 2011 Feb 1; 72 (2): 174-83.

ObjectiveTo refine and test construct validity and reliability of a composite pain scale for use in assessing acute postoperative pain in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.Sample Population40 cats that underwent ovariohysterectomy in a previous study.ProceduresIn a previous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, a composite pain scale was developed to assess postoperative pain in cats that received a placebo or an analgesic (tramadol, vedaprofen, or tramadol-vedaprofen combination). In the present study, the scale was refined via item analysis (distribution frequency and occurrence), a nonparametric ANOVA, and item-to-total score correlation. Construct validity was assessed via factor analysis and known-groups discrimination, and reliability was measured by assessing internal consistency.ResultsRespiratory rate and respiratory pattern were rejected after item analysis. Factor analysis resulted in 5 dimensions (F1 [psychomotor change], posture, comfort, activity, mental status, and miscellaneous behaviors; F2 [protection of wound area], reaction to palpation of the surgical wound and palpation of the abdomen and flank; F3 [physiologic variables], systolic arterial blood pressure and appetite; F4 [vocal expression of pain], vocalization; and F5 [heart rate]). Internal consistency was excellent for the overall scale and for F1, F2, and F3; very good for F4; and unacceptable for F5. Except for heart rate, the identified factors and scale total score could be used to detect differences between the analgesic and placebo groups and differences among the analgesic treatments.Conclusions And Clinical RelevanceResults provided initial evidence of construct validity and reliability of a multidimensional composite tool for use in assessing acute postoperative pain in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

33 keywords...

hide…