title: Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire for Job Difficulties (MSQ-Job): definition of the cut-off score.
abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) mainly affects people of working age. The Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire for Job Difficulties (MSQ-Job) was designed to measure difficulties in work-related tasks. Our aim is to define cut-off score of MSQ-Job to identify potential critical situations that might require specific attention. A sample of patients with MS completed the MSQ-Job, WHODAS 2.0 and MSQOL-54 respectively for work difficulties, disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluation. K-means Cluster Analysis was used to divide the sample in three groups on the basis of HRQoL and disability. ANOVA test was performed to compare the response pattern between these groups. The cut-off score was defined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses for MSQ-Job total and count of MSQ-Job items scores ≥3: a score value corresponding to the maximum of the sensitivity-to-specificity ratio was chosen as the cut-off. Out of 180 patients enrolled, twenty were clustered in the higher severity group. The area under the ROC curve was 0.845 for the MSQ-Job total and 0.859 for the count of MSQ-Job items scores ≥3 while the cut-off score was 15.8 for MSQ-Job total and 8 for count of items scored ≥3. We recommend the use of MSQ-Job with this calculation as cut-off for identifying critical situations, e.g. in vocational rehabilitation services, where work-related difficulties have a significant impact in terms of lower quality of life and higher disability.
authors: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy. silvia.schiavolin@istituto-besta.it.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Schiavolin
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Ambra Mara
authors: AM
authors: Giovannetti
authors: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Leonardi
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Greta
authors: G
authors: Brenna
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Brambilla
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Confalonieri
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Frangiamore
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Mantegazza
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Moscatelli
authors: Department of Neuroimmunology, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Valentina Torri
authors: VT
authors: Clerici
authors: Scientific Directorate, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Cortese
authors: Università degli Studi eCampus, Novedrate, CO, Italy.
authors: Venusia
authors: V
authors: Covelli
authors: Scientific Research Area, Italian Foundation of Multiple Sclerosis, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Ponzio
authors: Scientific Research Area, Italian Foundation of Multiple Sclerosis, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Zaratin
authors: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Raggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012372:ROC Curve; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000066477:Work Performance
keywords: Cut-off; Employment; MSQ-Job; Multiple sclerosis; Vocational rehabilitation; Work difficulties