title: Self-report versus performance measure in gauging level of function with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, progressive disease with no known cure. Symptoms vary widely for persons with MS and measuring levels of fine motor, gross motor and cognitive function is a large part of assessing disease progression in both clinical and research settings. While self-report measures of function have advantages in cost and ease of administration, questions remain about the accuracy of such measures and the relationship of self-reports of functioning to performance measures of function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare scores on a self-report measure of functional limitations with MS with a performance-based measure at five different time points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty participants in an ongoing longitudinal study completed two measures of function annually over a five-year period - the self-report Incapacity Status Scale and the MS Functional Composite (MSFC), a performance test. Pearson correlations were used to explore the association of self-report and performance scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were moderate to strong correlations among the ISS total (r = -.53 to -.63, p < .01) and subscale scores of gross (r = .79 to .87; p < .01)) and fine (r = .47 to .69; p < .01) motor function and the corresponding MSFC performance measure. The pattern of change over time in most scores on self-report and performance measures was similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that the self-report measure examined here, which has advantages in terms of feasibility of administration and patient burden, does relate to performance measurement, particularly in the area of gross motor function, but it may not adequately reflect cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River, Austin, TX 78701, USA. Electronic address: astuifbergen@mail.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Alexa K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stuifbergen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: The University of Maryland School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Hwa Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Functional limitations; Multiple sclerosis; Performance testing