title: Comparison of patient and staff assessment of MS patients' health status.
abstract: This study compared change scores obtained on patient self-reported symptoms (MS-RS) with the neurological examination of the Kurtzke Functional Systems (FS) and change scores obtained on patient self-reported activities of daily living (ADL-MS) with the neurologist-determined Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) that were obtained from two separate times separated by approximately seven months for 100 patients with multiple sclerosis. Percent agreement based on < or = 1 unit difference between patient and neurologists' change scores (Time 2-Time 1) ranged between 73% and 86% for MS-RS and FS measures and was 72% for ADL-MS and EDSS. Together, the ADL and MS-RS patient self-report scales provide health status information from the patient's perspective that can be useful in guiding the physical examination, in making comparisons from visit to visit and/or between visits, in assessing patients' quality of life, and in increasing patient satisfaction with medical care.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, College of Nursing, Newark 07102.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Gulick
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troiano
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012647:Self-Assessment; D000078329:Workforce