Quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients in Spain

Abstract

The Spanish FAMS is a psychometrically valid instrument that allows clinicians and clinical researchers the ability to measure the QOL concerns of MS patients in Spain.

Impact and characteristics of quality of life in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis

“…Previous studies from Spain [17] and Italy [41] also reported that EDSS scores were identified as the strong predictors of total FAMS score, and of almost all subscales although subscale scores for family/social well-being were not associated with EDSS score in our study. Large correlation coefficients for mobility and symptoms indicate these aspects are particularly affected by worsening disease severity in our study, and Chang et al also reported that EDSS is a dominant variable in predicting mobility especially by linear multivariate regression analysis [42]. We confirmed that pyramidal dysfunction and visual dysfunction evaluated in EDSS also reduce the FAMS mobility score and that the EQ-5D score is affected by the EDSS score.…”

Predictors of quality of life among patients with multiple sclerosis: An Italian cross-sectional study

“…These authors found high values of Cronbach's α coefficients (range: 0.78-0.96), indicating subscale homogeneity comparable with that of the original English version [20].…”

The future of outcomes measurement: item banking, tailored short-forms, and computerized adaptive assessment

“…Graphic presentations may be easier for physicians and patients to grasp [28]. Immediate presentation of results has been discussed as an important and necessary factor for the incorporating HRQL data to be useful and deemed meaningful in routine clinical practice [23][24][25][26][27]. Together with our colleagues at the Center on Outcomes, Research and Education (CORE), we have developed software to administer fixed-form or CAT to patients on tablet-, laptop-, and desktop-computers, over the internet, and using and Interactive Voice Response (IVR), such that a person can complete assessments from any touch tone telephone.…”

“…One of the primary advantages of electronic data collection is the capability to provide immediate feedback to the patient and/or their health care providers. Studies, including some from our group, on the presentation of patient HRQL information have used either graphic or written displays [12,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Functional scales depict performance in physical, role, emotional, and social areas, and often include questions regarding global quality of life; symptom scales typically assess the more common relevant symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, and diarrhea.…”

“…We have also explored the use of individual score displays and symptoms on one large graph [23,30] Others have focused on written reports that present brief text descriptions of functional issues and symptom profiles, highlighting those that are most problematic to patients [22,24,25]. Combined written and graphic reports help identify and prioritize patient problems or concerns, and facilitate communication [22][23][24][25][26][27]31] .Both seem well-received by physicians when they are kept simple and relevant, and are presented immediately [22,[24][25][26][27][28]32]. Graphic presentations may be easier for physicians and patients to grasp [28].…”