title: The MG-QOL15 for following the health-related quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis.
abstract: The MG-QOL15 is helpful in informing the clinician about the patient's perception of the extent of and dissatisfaction with myasthenia gravis (MG)-related dysfunction. The aims of this study were to determine the usefulness of the MG-QOL15 for following individuals with MG and to guide clinical researchers who plan to use the MG-QOL15. We assessed sensitivity and specificity for detecting clinical change and evaluated test-retest reliability. Sensitivities and specificities of various cut-points of change in scores are presented. Also presented are means and standard deviations of MG-QOL15 scores for all patients and for subgroups of patients. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 98.6%. The MG-QOL15 has an acceptable longitudinal construct validity. We consider this instrument to be most useful for informing the clinician about the patient's perception and tolerance of MG-related dysfunction. More objective measures, such as the MG Composite, should also be used to follow disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, PO Box 800394, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. tmb8r@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Ted M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Grouse
authors.forename: Gil I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Conaway
authors.forename: Donald B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*