Recent developments in the assessment of quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment have broad-ranging effects on quality of life. This article reviews recent efforts to assess the impact of MS on activities of daily living (ADLs) and health-related quality of life (HRQL), and describes the development of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). The MSQLI is a modular MS-specific HRQL instrument consisting of a widely-used generic measure, the Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36), supplemented by nine symptom-specific measures (covering fatigue, pain, bladder function, bowel function, emotional status, perceived cognitive function, visual function, sexual satisfaction, and social relationships). Content validation consisted of evaluating its adherence to a conceptual model of the impact of MS, and review by MS specialists (neurologists and allied health professionals), HRQL experts, patients, and caregivers. The reliability and construct validity of the MSQLI were rigorously evaluated in a field test with 300 North American patients (198 female, 102 male) with definite MS (Poser criteria) and a broad range of physical impairment (EDSS=0. 0-8.5). This article concludes by comparing the MSQLI with two other MS-specific HRQL measures (MS Quality of Life-54 (QOL-54) and Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS)) and discussing key issues to consider in selecting an HRQL instrument for a collaborative database.

Vision related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: correlation with new measures of low and high contrast letter acuity

“…The Impact of Visual Impairment Scale (IVIS) is a 5 item instrument derived from the Functional Capacities Assessment developed by the Michigan Commission for the Blind 29 30. The IVIS captures non-cognitively based difficulties with visual recognition that cannot be corrected with visual aids and is a subscale included in the MS Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI) 29 30.…”

Cognitive Deficits and Neuropsychological Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

“…The Multi-domain battery Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI) contains 10 scales, both generic and specific to MS [33]; some scales also have a shortened version: Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), MOS Pain Effects Scale (PES), Sexual Satisfaction Scale (SSS), Bladder Control Scale (BLCS), Bowel Control Scale (BWCS), Impact of Visual Impairment Scale (IVIS), Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ), Mental Health Inventory (MHI), and MOS Modified Social Support Survey (MSSS). The scales can also be presented individually.…”

Rasch analysis of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) in multiple sclerosis

“…The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was created during the development of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI)4 by shortening the 40-item FIS. This resulted in a 21-item scale (MFIS) with nine “physical” items, 10 “cognitive items” and two “psychosocial” items.…”