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Is training necessary for efficacious use of the Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale?
Carly M Moody1, Lee Niel1, Daniel J Pang1
1Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, USA (Moody); Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada (Niel); Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (Pang); Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (Pang).
Objective:
The Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-F) is a validated cat pain assessment tool for clinical use. No research has examined how training impacts use of this tool. Thus, we examined whether seminar-style training improves the identification of cat pain when using the CMPS-F. Veterinarians (n = 17) and non-veterinarian staff (n = 33; N = 50) were recruited to participate.
Procedure:
Seminars included: i) pre-training use of the CMPS-F to score cat videos with varying degrees of pain; ii) cat pain assessment training; and iii) post-training use of the CMPS-F. Participant CMPS-F ratings were compared to experts' ratings of the same videos. Average CMPS-F scores and analgesic decision ratings were compared pre-and post-training.
Results:
Most participants were female non-veterinarian staff who had not heard of the CMPS-F. Participant and expert analgesic decision-making did not differ pre- (P = 1.0) and post-training (P = 0.1). In addition, analgesic decision-making was similar between participants and experts for all but 3/20 videos.
Conclusion And Clinical Relevance:
Seminar training may not be necessary for efficacious use of the CMPS-F. Further research is needed to explore strategies for improving awareness of cat pain assessment tools and increasing in-clinic use.
