The use of pain scales in small animal veterinary practices in the U.S.
Objectives
Pain assessment in veterinary medicine is challenging. Uncertainty in the ability to recognize pain in animals contributes to suboptimal analgesia. Pain scales have been developed to aid in pain recognition. It is unknown if such scales are routinely utilised in veterinary practices.
Materials and methods
A survey using RedCap software was emailed to veterinarians and veterinary technicians working in practices across the U.S. This study – led by a team at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Midwestern University – aimed to investigate whether pain scoring was routinely performed and reasons to use the pain scales (or why they were not used). Researchers estimated that 144 participants were required to estimate prevalence — using a 95% confidence level, 5% precision — with hypothesised prevalence of approximately 10%.
Results
One hundred and forty-seven participants completed the survey. Seventy or 47.6% responded that pain scoring was performed in their practices, 24 or 16.3%, reported "sometimes" and 53 or 36.1% reported pain scores were not performed. Reasons for not conducting pain scoring included no training (51.9%) and busy caseload (48.1%). Disadvantages of using pain scales cited by participants were unreliability (16 of 82 or 20%), duration required for completion (14 of 82 or 17%) and vocalization (14 of 82 or 17%).
Clinical significance
Almost 50% of the small animal practices surveyed reported the use of pain scales as part of their routine workflow. However, many practices still do not consistently utilize pain scales to assess pain in dogs and cats. Perceived unreliability and lack of compliance were reasons for this result. Improvement of training and proper pain scale introduction and implementation in small animal practices in the U.S. appears to be required.
R. S. Costa, R. L. Hassur, T. Jones, A. Stein. "The use of pain scales in small animal veterinary practices in the USA." Journal of Small Animal Practice. 25 December 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13581
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