Shortened MS Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Compares With Longer Test in Reliability and Consistency

The shortened Multiple Sclerosis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-29 (MSQoL-29) demonstrates reliability and consistency in measuring quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study recently published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal. MSQoL-29 also reduces the amount of time required to take the questionnaire to approximately 7 minutes.

This study included 100 subjects with MS, all of whom completed both the longer Multiple Sclerosis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-54 (MSQoL-54) and MSQoL-29, and 91 of whom completed MSQoL-29 4 to 8 weeks after completing MSQoL-54.

The study researchers used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to assess reliability and acceptability, Cronbach’s alpha to assess internal consistency, and Bland-Altman plots to assess agreement. 

MSQoL-54 and MSQoL-29 showed significantly positive ICCs (Mental Health Composite [MHC] – ICC =0.88; Physical Health Composite [PHC] – ICC =0.91), as did the 2 MSQoL-29 groups (MHC–ICC=0.94; PHC–ICC=0.97).

Bland-Altman plots showed that 95% of scores fell within limits of agreement in subjects who completed the tests in 2 visits. The time required to complete MSQoL-29 also showed significant reduction from MSQoL-54 (7.2 ± 2.9 minutes vs 19.79 ± 5.4 minutes, respectively; P =.0001).

The study researchers conclude that “MSQoL-29 is an internally consistent and reliable instrument to measure [quality of life] in [persons with MS]. It could be completed in 7 minutes. Further research evaluating the Bland–Altman agreement of [health-related quality of life] instruments is required.”

Reference

Baker G, Nair KPS, Baster K, Rosato R, Solari A. Reliability and acceptability of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-29 questionnaire in an English-speaking cohort [published online May 15, 2018]. Mult Scler. doi: 10.1177/1352458518776583