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Updated: Jul 27, 2026
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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Factors related to agreement between self-reported and conventional Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores
E M Cheng1, R D Hays, L W Myers
1Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1769, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|January 25, 2002
Summary
A self-administered Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) questionnaire shows moderate agreement with physician ratings for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. While not a replacement, it may aid in MS trial screening and broad disability assessments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Assessment
- Multiple Sclerosis Research
Background:
- The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is crucial for assessing multiple sclerosis (MS) impairments but has limitations in certain clinical scenarios.
- A self-administered EDSS could offer a practical alternative if validated against physician assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a self-administered questionnaire for estimating EDSS scores in MS patients.
- To assess the agreement between patient-reported EDSS scores and physician-assessed EDSS scores.
Main Methods:
- A patient questionnaire was designed to capture neurologic impairment ratings.
- Algorithms were created to estimate EDSS scores from questionnaire data.
- 146 new MS patients completed questionnaires before physician EDSS assessments.
Main Results:
- Agreement between self-administered and physician EDSS scores varied, with Kappa values of 0.13 (exact), 0.39 (+/-0.5 steps), and 0.56 (+/-1.0 steps).
- Higher agreement was observed at lower ( <3.0) and higher ( >5.0) EDSS scores.
- Patient education level and physician diagnostic certainty influenced agreement.
Conclusions:
- Self-administered EDSS scores do not achieve sufficient agreement to replace conventional physician assessments.
- The self-administered EDSS may be valuable for screening in MS clinical trials.
- It could also be useful for evaluating outcomes across broad disability categories in MS.
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