A health-related quality of life questionnaire for multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The construction of a brief, valid and reliable HRQoL questionnaire for use in multiple sclerosis patients based on generic and disease-specific HRQoL measures.


METHODS
The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), COOP/ WONCA Charts, and Disability & Impact Profile (DIP) were used in a longitudinal study in 162 patients with multiple sclerosis.


RESULTS
Factor analyses identified 2 underlying dimensions of HRQoL, relating to "physical functioning" and "psychological functioning". Selection of the 3 highest loading reliable scales on each factor resulted in a final questionnaire consisting of 3 scales of the SF-36 and 3 scales of the DIP. In total 40 items were selected; completion time is about 10 min.


CONCLUSIONS
The final questionnaire adequately measured 2 dimensions of HRQoL. The length of the questionnaire is acceptable for patients with MS in view of respondent burden.
Pfennings
L E
LE
Dept of Medical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Van der Ploeg
H M
HM
Cohen
L
L
Bramsen
I
I
Polman
C H
CH
Lankhorst
G J
GJ
Vleugels
L
L
D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*