Validation of the Brazilian version of Guy's neurological disability scale.
The Guy's neurological disability scale (GNDS) has recently been introduced as a new measure of disability in multiple sclerosis. It is patient-oriented, multidimensional, and not biased towards any particular disability. The purpose of the present study was to validate the Brazilian version of the GNDS. The adaptation of the scale was based on the translation/back-translation methodology. Sixty-two patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) according to Poser's criteria were recruited for this study. GNDS was administered individually to each subject. The EDSS and the ambulation index (AI) scores were assigned by a neurologist. The intraclass correlation coefficient and the Cronbach's alpha values of the Brazilian version of GNDS (0.94 and 0.83, respectively) were comparable to the original one (0.98 and 0.79, respectively). Furthermore, the factor analysis of the Brazilian version of GNDS suggested, as the original article, a four-factor solution which accounted for 68.8% of the total variance. The Brazilian version of GNDS was found to be clinically relevant as it correlated significantly with the EDSS and AI. In conclusion, the Brazilian version of GNDS can be considered an important tool to evaluate the disability in MS patients, with clinical usefulness and psychometrics soundness.
Araujo
Carolina R
CR
Centro de Investigação em Esclerose Múltipla de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Rua Santa Catarina 1011/801, 30170-080 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. araujo.cr@gmail.com
Simão
Luciano M
LM
Ybarra
Mariana I
MI
Faria
Natasha V M G
NV
Botelho
Caroline M
CM
Moreira
Marcos A
MA
Teixeira
Antônio L
AL
Lana-Peixoto
Marco A
MA
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014177:Translations