title: The Persian Version of a Participation Scale: Is It Valid and Reliable Enough for Use among Iranian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the face and criterion validity, stability reliability, and internal consistency of the Persian version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA-p) scale among Iranian people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Trained experts interviewed 364 MS patients and their relatives to assess the criterion validity, stability reliability, and internal consistency of the IPA-p scale. Ten specialists from different disciplines were also recruited to assess its face validity. A consent form was completed by the patients and their relatives. Internal consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and stability reliability was assessed using interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The test-retest method was used to detect the reliability of the questioner. The study subjects completed the IPA-p scale on two occasions separated by an interval of 30-45 days. Study checklists were also used to assess the face validity, stability reliability, and internal consistency of the IPA-p scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 50% of the respondents reported their perceived overall participation to be "good" or "very good" and 60% of the specialists rated the ability of the IPA-p scale to measure what it was designed for as "excellent." Spearman correlation coefficients were >0.8 for all but one IPA-p domain. Cronbach's alpha between the mean IPA-p scale scores achieved on two separate occasions ranged from 0.858 to 0.913. The highest and lowest internal consistencies belonged to the "social relationships" and "education and learning" domains, respectively. The test-retest ICCs for the nine domains were between 0.789 and 0.919, and all were significant at p<0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IPA-p questionnaire can be considered a valid and reliable instrument for assessing self-reported participation among Iranian MS patients.
authors: Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, Medical School, Rafsanjan University, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Vazirinejad
authors: Social Medicine Department, Medical School, Rafsanjan University, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Javad
authors: J
authors: Joorian
authors: Anatomy Department, Medical School, Rafsanjan University, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Mohsen
authors: MM
authors: Taghavi
authors: Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, Nottingham University Medical School, The Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors: Jeanette M
authors: JM
authors: Lilley
authors: Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. sayadiahmad@yahoo.com.
authors: Ahmad Reza
authors: AR
authors: Sayadi Anari
keywords: IPA; MS; participation; persian; quality of life