Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29): reliability and validity in hospital based samples
A Riazi1, J C Hobart, D L Lamping
1Neurological Outcome Measures Unit, Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Background And Aim:
The psychometric properties of rating scales are sample dependent and need evaluations in different samples. The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), a new patient based rating scale for multiple sclerosis (MS) was predominantly developed from a community based sample derived from the MS Society. A number of important patient characteristics of this sample remain unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate five psychometric properties of the MSIS-29 in three hospital based samples: people admitted for rehabilitation, people admitted for intravenous corticosteroid treatment for MS relapses, and people with primary progressive MS.
Methods:
People with MS were recruited from the three clinical settings. They completed several health measures. MSIS-29 data were evaluated for data quality, scaling assumptions, acceptability, reliability and validity, and compared with those from a previously reported community based study.
Results:
A total of 233 people (rehabilitation p=53; corticosteroids p=76; primary progressive p=104) completed questionnaires. In all samples, missing data were low (
Conclusions:
The psychometric properties of the MSIS-29 are consistent across three hospital based samples, and similar to those in the community samples. These findings further support its use as an outcome measure in different clinical settings.
Insights
The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) demonstrates reliable and valid psychometric properties across diverse hospital patient samples. These findings support its use as an outcome measure in various clinical settings for multiple sclerosis (MS).
Area of Science:
- Clinical assessment
- Psychometrics
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research
Background:
- Rating scales' psychometric properties are sample-dependent, requiring validation in different populations.
- The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) was initially developed using a community-based sample.
- Key characteristics of the initial MSIS-29 development sample were not fully known.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the MSIS-29 in three distinct hospital-based samples.
- To assess MSIS-29 performance in patients undergoing rehabilitation, corticosteroid treatment for relapses, and those with primary progressive MS.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of individuals with MS from three clinical settings.
- Administration of the MSIS-29 and other health measures.
- Evaluation of MSIS-29 data for quality, scaling assumptions, acceptability, reliability, and validity, with comparisons to a community-based study.
Main Results:
- Data from 233 participants (rehabilitation, corticosteroids, primary progressive MS) were analyzed.
- Low missing data (
- MSIS-29 correlations with other scales aligned with hypotheses, and findings were consistent with community samples.
Conclusions:
- The MSIS-29 exhibits consistent psychometric properties across three hospital-based patient groups.
- Its performance in clinical settings mirrors that observed in community samples.
- These results reinforce the MSIS-29's utility as an outcome measure in diverse clinical contexts for MS.
