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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Multiple Sclerosis | Research

Translation and validation of the multiple sclerosis walking scale 12 for the German population – the MSWS-12/D

Authors: Anna Chorschew, Firat Kesgin, Judith Bellmann-Strobl, Peter Flachenecker, Insa Schiffmann, Friederike Rosenthal, Patrick Althoff, Daniel Drebinger, Radina Arsenova, Ludwig Rasche, Eva-Maria Dorsch, Christoph Heesen, Friedemann Paul, Jan-Patrick Stellmann, Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Gait impairment is a relevant problem in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale 12 (MSWS-12) is a valid Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) to evaluate walking ability in pwMS. The aim of this study was to provide a linguistically valid translation of MSWS-12 into German language (MSWS-12/D) and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods

The MSWS-12 was translated in a process modified from guidelines for the cross-cultural adaption of PROMs, and a pre-test was applied in a small sample of 20 pwMS to evaluate comprehensibility and acceptance. Psychometric properties (floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, construct validity) were then assessed in 124 pwMS seen at academic MS centers. Construct validity was evaluated against Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and maximum gait speed in the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW).

Results

Although the sample covered a wide spectrum of symptom severity, the majority had rather low levels of disability (EDSS median 2.0) and 6.5% scored EDSS of 0. In this sample, MSWS-12/D showed floor effects (36% with score 0) and for internal consistency, a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98 was calculated. MSWS-12/D score showed a relevant correlation to EDSS (ρ = 0.73) and T25FW speed (r=-0.72).

Conclusion

We provide MSWS-12/D as a linguistically valid German version of MSWS-12. Psychometric properties (acceptance, floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency and construct validity) in pwMS were similar to those described for the original version. This indicates that MSWS-12/D can be applied as equivalent to the original version in German speaking pwMS. Results support the relevance of PROMs to capture patient perception of walking ability in addition to performance-based assessments such as maximum walking speed or maximum walking distance.
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Metadata
Title
Translation and validation of the multiple sclerosis walking scale 12 for the German population – the MSWS-12/D
Authors
Anna Chorschew
Firat Kesgin
Judith Bellmann-Strobl
Peter Flachenecker
Insa Schiffmann
Friederike Rosenthal
Patrick Althoff
Daniel Drebinger
Radina Arsenova
Ludwig Rasche
Eva-Maria Dorsch
Christoph Heesen
Friedemann Paul
Jan-Patrick Stellmann
Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-023-02190-2

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