Development, validation and reliability of a general and facial sedation scale in horses

Author(s)

Alice Rodrigues de Oliveira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Botucatu. 2020-08-17.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Botucatu
• Defense date: 2020-06-15
• Advisor: Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna

Abstract

Sedation in horses is the target of studies evaluating sedative effects of drugs in experimental and clinical situations. There are different descriptions to estimate sedation in horses, but without standardization and validation, which makes reproducibility difficult. The objective was to validate an Equine composite numerical sedation scale (EquiSed) and Equine numerical facial sedation scale (FaceSed). Seven animals were submitted to a study with six different protocols: Detomidine in low dose isolated (DL, 2,5 μg/kg + 6,25 μg/kg/h for 120 min) or associated with methadone (DLM, 0,2 mg/kg of methadone + 0,05 mg/kg/h for 120 min), detomidine in high dose isolated (DH, 5 μg/kg + 12,5 μg/kg/h for 120 min) or associated with methadone (DHM, 0,2 mg/kg de methadone + 0,05mg/kg/h for 120 min), acepromazine in bolus in low dose (ACPL 0,02 mg/kg) and high dose (ACPH 0,09 mg/kg). When submitted to continuous rate infusion, the animals were evaluated for 240 minutes and when submitted to bolus, evaluated for 120 minutes. A photograph was taken of the horse´s faces and was subsequently they were filmed while the auditory, visual and pressure stimuli were applied by touching the ears, the thoracic and pelvic limbs and postural instability. The videos and photos were randomized and evaluated twice by four evaluators with and interval of one month. The responsiveness of both scales was verified over time (p<0,05). In EquiSed, all the items were acceptable (0,3 – 0,7) in the item-total correlation and the scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach´s α = 0,73). Spearman´s correlation for concurrent criterion validation of the sum of EquiSed versus visual analogue scale (VAS), the numerical rating scale (NRS) and simple descriptive scale (SDS) was high (>0,70) in animals treated with detomidina at high dose. The head height above the ground (HHAG) presented average results (-0,69). Good and very good reliability of the sum of EquiSed were identified for intraobserver (0,89 – 0,91) and interobserver agreement matrix was 0,53 – 0,86. The sensitivity was >78 for touch the ears, auditory, visual and postural instability. Specificity for the pressure on the limbs (>74) was detected. FaceSed showed high internal consistency (Cronbach´s α = 0,83) and item-total correlation between 0,60 – 0,73. The Spearman correlation of the sum of FaceSed versus NRS was high (>0,85) and ACAC% was average (-0,38 to -0,56). The intraobserver correlation range between 0,82 to 0,91 and interobservers 0,64 to 0,84. Sensitivity was >84 to touch the ears, auditory and visual. for all items and specificity ranged from 44 to 82. The conclusions is that EquiSed and FaceSed have validity of criterion, content and construct, reliable and with good internal consistency. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/16208-0 - Development, validation and reliability of a general and facial sedation scale in horses
• Grantee: Alice Rodrigues de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate