title: The multiple sclerosis work difficulties questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A better understanding of the workplace difficulties experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may be critical to developing appropriate vocational and rehabilitative programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the new Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Work difficulty items were developed and reviewed by a panel of experts. Using the MSWDQ, cross-sectional self-report data of work difficulties were obtained in addition to employment status and MS disease information, in a community-based sample of 189 PwMS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exploratory Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis on the draft questionnaire yielded 50 items measuring 12 factors. Subscale internal consistencies ranged from 0.74 to 0.92, indicating adequate to excellent internal consistency reliability. The MSWDQ explained 40% of the variance in reduced work hours since diagnosis, 40% of the variance in expectations about withdrawing from work, 34% of the variance in expectations about reducing work hours, and 39% of the variance in expectations about changing type of work due to MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MSWDQ is a valid and internally reliable measure of workplace difficulties in PwMS. Physical difficulties, as well as cognitive and psychological difficulties were important predictors of workplace outcomes and expectations about future employment.
authors.affiliation: School of Cognitive Behavioural & Social Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia. chonan@une.edu.au
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Honan
authors.forename: Rhonda F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Donald W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hine
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vowels
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wollin
authors.forename: Rex D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D017132:Workplace