![]() The goal of this study was to validate a Portuguese version of the LOAD, allowing its use in studies where the target population has Portuguese as a primary language, spoken by 261 million people around the world. In addition, the instrument’s reliability must be determined to assess if the questionnaire is delivering consistent results. Factor analysis is usually used to assess construct validity, and Cronbach’s α allows to assess internal consistency. Construct validity is evaluated when the target attribute cannot be observed directly. Face validity is judged by a group of experts that assess if the scale looks reasonable for the purpose set. Validity is determined through different approaches. If an instrument is translated, several properties must be assessed in the target population after translating the instrument to the desired language. The development of clinical metrology instruments has been extensively documented. Later, its broader use has been tested and is deemed reliable to assess canine OA in general. ![]() It has shown good reliability, just lower than peak vertical force generated by force plate gait analysis, although both results correlate. The Liverpool Osteoarthritis in dogs (LOAD) was initially developed to assess dogs with elbow OA. Similarly, an increased joint range of motion may not be significant if the patient shows no improvement in its ability to perform daily activities. They may also present an alternative or complement to objective measures, as a change in load-bearing of an individual limb may not be correlated to a change in demeanor or activity in the animal’s everyday environment. The individual item scores are then used to calculate an overall instrument score. A clinical metrology instrument comprises a sequence of questions or items, scored based on the person’s completing it observations or experiences. This patient-centered approach has been incorporated into veterinary assessments. For that purpose, different clinical metrology instruments have been developed to measure pain and impairment in performing daily activities. Having clinically relevant outcome measures is paramount to evaluating patients and determining response to treatment. It has a toll on patients’ quality of life, implying a considerable cost in healthcare. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most commonly diagnosed joint disease in veterinary medicine. It is an additional stage in providing a broader number of clinicians with an accessible tool to evaluate dogs with osteoarthritis. We presented criterion and construct validity of the Portuguese version of the LOAD, which is valid for use in the Portuguese language. Cronbach’s α was 0.96, and a high inter-item correlation was observed, raging from 0.76 to 0.95, showing strong internal consistency. Two factors accounted for 81.5% of the total variance. ResultsĪ significant difference was observed between OA and sound dogs (p < 0.01), indicating construct validity. Internal consistency was tested with Cronbach’s α. ![]() Further evaluation was performed with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy, Eigenvalue, and scree-plot analysis. ![]() Construct validity was evaluated by assessing differences between OA and sound animals with the Mann-Whitney test. Their results were compared with those of fifty sound dogs. Canine handlers, who were native Portuguese speakers, completed a copy of the translated version of the LOAD. We aimed to perform an initial psychometric evaluation of the Portuguese version of the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD).Fifty Police working dogs with bilateral hip OA were assessed in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. ![]() Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most commonly diagnosed joint disease in companion animals, and proper tools are necessary to assess patients and response to treatment. ![]()
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