The goal of this study was to develop two ‘tools’ that could be used to measure chronic pain in cats and then design appropriate studies that will identify new treatments for pain. The first tool is the Feline Brief Pain Inventory (FBPI), which is an owner completed questionnaire that will identify and report on how the cat behaves at home, focusing on the behaviors that are related to chronic pain. Three focus group sessions were completed as step one of development of the Feline Brief Pain Inventory. We now know which behaviors should be incorporated into a first version of the FBPI to undergo testing for validity and reliability in further studies.
The second tool is a small activity monitor that can easily be worn on the cat’s collar during normal activities at home. The investigators have determined that the cat should wear the monitor for seven consecutive days in order to collect a fairly consistent estimate of a cat’s routine activity while including the days of highest and most variable activity. Comparing seven-day intervals of activity over time in companion cats could be useful for determining the efficacy of interventions or monitoring the progression of disease. Although further investigation is necessary, this device continues to have potential as an objective tool for measuring activity in companion cats in the setting where they are found most often, at home with their owners.
Winn Grant Report: Development of outcome assessment instruments for chronic pain in cats, $24,513
Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM, DACVS; University of Pennsylvania
See also:
Brown DC, Boston RC, Coyne JC, et al. Ability of the canine brief pain inventory to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008;233:1278-1283. [Free, full text]
Brown DC, Boston RC, Farrar JT. Use of an activity monitor to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;237:66-70. [Free, full text]
