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Less experienced observers assess piglet castration-induced acute pain differently than experienced observers: A
Gustavo Venâncio da Silva1, Magdiel Lopez-Soriano2, Monique Danielle Pairis-Garcia3
1Laboratory of Applied Artificial Intelligence on Health, Department of Anesthesiology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Observer experience significantly impacts swine pain scale scores. Even minimal experience is sufficient for consistent scoring, supporting wider implementation of the Unesp-Botucatu Pig Composite Acute Pain Scale (UPAPS) for improved swine welfare.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Veterinary Anesthesiology
- Ethology
Background:
- Standardized behavioral pain scales are crucial for accurate swine pain assessment.
- The influence of observer experience on pain scale scoring remains under-investigated.
- Accurate pain assessment is vital for improving swine welfare during husbandry procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of observer experience on scoring swine castration pain using the Unesp-Botucatu Pig Composite Acute Pain Scale (UPAPS).
- To assess the reliability and agreement of UPAPS scores across different experience levels of observers.
- To determine if minimal experience is adequate for consistent UPAPS application.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study utilizing existing UPAPS scores from piglets undergoing surgical castration.
- Six observers with varying experience levels (Little to no, Some, Extensive) scored the pain.
- Statistical analyses included intraclass correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman analysis, area under the curve (AUC), and regression modeling.
Main Results:
- Intra-experience reliability was satisfactory across all groups (0.72–0.84).
- Inter-experience reliability was lower (0.42), with less experienced observers tending to underestimate pain.
- Predictive capacity (AUC) was similar across groups (71.94%–79.09%), and regression confirmed underscoring by novice observers.
Conclusions:
- Minimal experience (e.g., 'Some experience') in the swine industry is sufficient for observers to score UPAPS consistently.
- The UPAPS can be effectively implemented by minimally qualified observers in farm and laboratory settings.
- Wider adoption of UPAPS by less experienced personnel can enhance swine welfare.
