title: [MSA-QoL: disease-specific questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in multiple system atrophy: validation of the German translation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder which causes early sustained disability and quality of life impairment. Recently, a self-reported questionnaire focusing on MSA-specific symptoms (Multiple System Atrophy Quality of Life questionnaire, MSA-QoL) was developed in the English language. This article reports the validation of the German translation of the MSA-QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Translation of the MSA-QoL was implemented in a 3-tiered approach including a forward translation, a back translation and an independent review. For the validation study 38 consecutive patients with MSA according to the consensus criteria were recruited by the participating centers in a German-Austrian cohort. Data were analyzed using standard psychometric procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As determined by the independent review, the German translation of the MSA-QoL was classified as fully equivalent to the English version. The validation study confirmed good psychometric properties of the rating scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The German translation of the MSA-QoL was shown to be a reliable patient-reported rating scale to determine health-related quality of life in MSA patients.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurobiologie, Department für Neurologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krismer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duerr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minnerop
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klockgether
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamelou
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oertel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrag
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wenning
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating