title: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) for the Brazilian population.
abstract: Gait impairment is reported by 85% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) as main complaint. In 2003, Hobart et al. developed a scale for walking known as The 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), which combines the perspectives of patients with psychometric methods.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the MSWS-12 for the Brazilian population with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 116 individuals diagnosed with MS, in accordance with McDonald's criteria. The steps of the adaptation process included translation, back-translation, review by an expert committee and pretesting. A test and retest of MSWS-12/BR was made for validation, with comparison with another scale (MSIS-29/BR) and another test (T25FW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Brazilian version of MSWS-12/BR was shown to be similar to the original. The results indicate that MSWS-12/BR is a reliable and reproducible scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSWS-12/BR has been adapted and validated, and it is a reliable tool for the Brazilian population.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo SP, Brazil. brumarangoni@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bruna E M
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Marangoni
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Charles Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tilbery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult