Development and validation of a novel instrument to capture companion dog mortality data: the Dog Aging Project End of Life Survey

Author:

McNulty Kellyn E.1,Creevy Kate E.1,Fitzpatrick Annette23,Wilkins Vanessa1,Barnett Brian G.4,_ _,Ruple Audrey5

Affiliation:

1. Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

2. Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

3. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

4. Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

5. Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE The researchers and clinicians within the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a longitudinal cohort study of aging in companion dogs, created and validated a novel survey instrument titled the End of Life Survey (EOLS) to gather owner-reported mortality data about companion dogs. SAMPLE Bereaved dog owners who participated in the refinement, face validity assessment, or reliability assessment of the EOLS (n = 42) and/or completed the entire survey between January 20 and March 24, 2021 (646). PROCEDURES The EOLS was created and modified by veterinary health professionals and human gerontology experts using published literature, clinical veterinary experience, previously created DAP surveys, and feedback from a pilot study conducted with bereaved dog owners. The EOLS was subjected to qualitative validation methods and post hoc free-text analysis to evaluate its ability to thoroughly capture scientifically relevant aspects of companion dogs’ deaths. RESULTS The EOLS was well received with excellent face validity as assessed by dog owners and experts. The EOLS had fair to substantial reliability for the 3 validation themes—cause of death (κ = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.95), perimortem quality of life (κ = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.73), and reason for euthanasia (κ = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.52)—and had no need for any substantial content alterations based on free-text analysis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The EOLS has proven to be a well-accepted, comprehensive, and valid instrument for capturing owner-reported companion dog mortality data and has the potential to enhance veterinarians’ ability to care for the aging dog population by illuminating their understanding of companion dogs’ end-of-life experiences.

Publisher

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Subject

General Veterinary

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