Development and Validation of a New Online Tool for Monitoring Clinical Signs of Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Objectives The aim of the study was to develop a simple, reliable and validated patient‐reported outcome tool for use in monitoring the severity of clinical signs in dogs with confirmed or suspected atopic allergies and recurrent otitis externa. The tool is called the Dog‐Orientated Severity of Atopy Scale (DOSAS). Materials and Methods The human Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) was adapted for relevance to the owner‐observable clinical signs of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Refinements were made via consultation with dog owners and veterinary surgeons to ensure applicability and ease of use. Relevant features of reliability (including internal consistency, intrarater reliability and test–retest reliability) were evaluated. The tool was then tested by owners and clinicians for performance against established clinical sign assessment methods. Results The DOSAS was shown to be both reliable and valid with psychometric properties above acceptable guidelines for the development of such tools. Guidelines are presented for score creation and stratification of the score to enable interpretation. When compared to how severity assessment scores from Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI‐04) and pruritus Visual Assessment Scale (PVAS) responded to change, the DOSAS performed particularly strongly, although it performed less well when compared to the 0–3 Otitis Index Score (OTIS‐3). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance The DOSAS is presented as a supplementary tool for use in veterinary practice and clinical research programmes alongside existing clinical measurements such as CADESI‐04, providing a focus on the disease as it is experienced by the dog and their owner. Unlike clinical measurement, the DOSAS is accessible and interpretable for dog owners, which is important for the management of chronic pruritic conditions, and will enable dog owners to be more actively involved with their dog's disease management.