Browsing by Subject "quality of life"

Helsinki Chronic Pain Index (HCPI) is a validated clinical metrology instrument used to measure canine chronic pain. In pain assessment, it is recommended to use validated instruments, and behavioural changes provide the best basis for pain measurement. A measuring instrument is valid when it does what it is intended to do. Validation can be done using many different methods. The aim of this study was to investigate which items of the HCPI are still useful and psychometrically test a new structure of the HCPI (HCPI-E3) after four new questions had been added to the test. The data consisted of 1140 internet-based questionnaire responses from dog owners. The study dogs were divided into different groups based on their reported amount of pain symptoms, pain medications, and other treatments to relieve pain. Based on the comparison of different items, five possible structures of the new HCPI were developed and tested with different statistical methods. Based on the initial item comparison, the “vocalization” item was deleted from the HCPI. Overall, the “ease in” locomotion items showed better criterion validity than the “willingness to” items. Both of the “jumping” items performed excellent compared to the other locomotion item pairs, as well as the new structure containing both “jumping” items and only the “ease in” items from the other locomotion items. Thus, this structure was chosen to be the best candidate for the new structure of the HCPI. Jumping is an easily assessed activity, which does not occur too frequently, possibly making it easier to measure the dog’s willingness to do it compared to gait changes (walking, trotting, and galloping). The HCPI-E3 is a reliable tool for canine chronic pain measurement; however, future validation in the form of repeatability and reliability are still needed.