A Health-Related Quality of Life Measure for Multiple Sclerosis

Describes the development of an HRQOL measure for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors added 18 items about health distress, sexual function, satisfaction with sexual function, overall quality of life, cognitive function, energy, pain, and social function to the 36 generic health items of the SF-36. The resulting Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL-54) instrument contains 52 items distributed into 12 scales, as well as two additional single items. Internal consistency reliability estimates for the 12 multi-item scales range from 0.75 to 0.96. Test retest intraclass correlation coefficients range from 0.66 to 0.96. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed two underlying dimensions of physical health and mental health. Construct validity was supported by significant associations between MSQOL-54 scales and degree of MS symptom severity in the prior year, level of ambulation, employment limitations due to health, admission to the hospital in the prior year, and depressive symptoms.