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Development of a Composite Pain Scale in Foals: A Pilot Study
Aliai Lanci1, Beatrice Benedetti1, Francesca Freccero1
1Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sora 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|February 25, 2022
Summary
A new Foal Composite Pain Scale (FCPS) shows promise for assessing pain in foals. This tool, combining facial expressions, behaviors, and physical signs, demonstrated good reliability and accurately differentiated pain levels in young horses.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Welfare Science
- Equine Health
Background:
- Effective pain management in horses is essential, yet objective pain assessment tools for foals are lacking.
- Accurate pain evaluation is critical for improving foal welfare and treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and pilot a composite scale for estimating pain in foals.
- To assess the reliability and preliminary validity of the Foal Composite Pain Scale (FCPS).
Main Methods:
- Developed the FCPS incorporating 11 facial expressions, 4 behavioral items, and 5 physical items.
- Recorded and scored videos of 35 pain-free and 15 pain-affected foals by blinded observers.
- Calculated inter- and intra-observer reliability using Fleiss' kappa and ICC, and internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha.
Main Results:
- The FCPS demonstrated moderate to almost perfect inter-observer reliability (Fleiss' kappa) and excellent intra-observer reliability (ICC = 0.923).
- Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.842), with a cut-off score of ≥ 7 indicating pain.
- Pain Group foals scored significantly higher than controls (p < 0.001), with scores decreasing post-analgesia and at recovery (T1, T2 > T3; p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The FCPS shows clinical applicability for quantifying foal pain and aiding quality of life judgments.
- Preliminary findings suggest the FCPS requires refinement, necessitating further studies with larger sample sizes to validate the improved scale.
