The reliability of the MSFC and its components.
BACKGROUND
The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) is a multidimensional measurement tool for multiple sclerosis (MS) including a measure of ambulation (Timed 25-foot Walk [TWT]), arm function (Nine-Hole Peg Test [9HPT]) and cognition (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test [PASAT]).


OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability and practice effects in the Finnish version of the MSFC and its components.


METHODS
Ten relapsing-remitting MS patients and 10 healthy controls underwent five testing sessions with the MSFC over a 4-week period.


RESULTS
The MSFC showed excellent intra- (0.99) and inter-rater (1.0) reliability. The MSFC, especially the 9HPT and the PASAT showed significant practice effects. On the 9HPT the controls remained stable whereas the patients improved their performance; on the PASAT both groups improved.


CONCLUSIONS
The MSFC showed excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability although the 9HPT and the PASAT were prone to considerable practice effects.
Rosti-Otajärvi
E
E
Department of Neurology, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland. eija.rosti@helsinki.fi
Hämäläinen
P
P
Koivisto
K
K
Hokkanen
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results