Psychometric properties of quality of life and health-related quality of life assessments in people with multiple sclerosis
Abstract
Purpose There is substantial interest in testing interventions for improving quality of life (QOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Yet, there is limited research on the psychometric properties of QOL [e.g., Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Leeds MS Quality of Life Scale (LMSQOL)] and HRQOL [e.g., Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29)] measures in this population. Such research is important for designing and interpreting interventions. We examined the test-retest reliability, measurement error, and interpretability of QOL (i.e., SWLS and LMSQOL) and HRQOL (i.e., SF-12 and MSIS-29) measures over 6 months in people with MS.Methods Individuals with MS (n = 274) completed the SWLS, LMSQOL, SF-12 and MSIS-29 on two occasions, 6 months apart. We estimated test-retest reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)], measurement error [standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation] and interpretability [smallest detectable change (SDC)].Results Intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged between moderate and good (ICC range = 0.669-0.883); the MSIS-29 physical component had the best reliability, and the SF-12 mental component had the worst reliability. Measurement error, based on percent SEM, varied among measures; the physical and mental components of the SF-12 (%SEM = 4.6 and 5.3, respectively) had the best measurement error, and the MSIS-29 mental component (%SEM = 13.2) and the SWLS (%SEM = 12.7) had the worst measurement error. Interpretability, based on percent SDC, varied among measures; interpretability was best for the physical and mental components of the SF-12 (%SDC = 12.7 and 14.7, respectively) and worst for the MSIS-29 mental component (%SDC = 36.7) and the SWLS (%SDC = 35).Conclusion We provide novel data for helping researchers and clinicians select and interpret QOL and HRQOL measures and scores for interventions among people with MS. Such information will better inform our understanding of intervention effectiveness.
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The Satisfaction with Life Scale is valid and reliable in the multiple sclerosis population.
“The SWLS has been used previously in the MS literature49 and found to be valid and reliable in this population.50,51”
From Quality of life and psychological well-being in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS): importance of adopting a biopsychosocial model (2018) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Learmonth, Y. C., Hubbard, E. A., McAuley, E., & Motl, R. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Corresponding author
- Motl, R. W.
- Venue
- Quality of Life Research
- Published
- 2014-02-14
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2015-2023
- ISSN
- 0962-9343 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2649
- OpenAlex
- W2021715948
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 2.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Quality of Life Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R03NS054050, NS054050)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, quality of life, health-related quality of life, psychometric properties, test-retest reliability, measurement error, minimal detectable change, Satisfaction with Life Scale, SF-12, MSIS-29
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status Indicators, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reproducibility of Results
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