Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
A psychometric validation of two brief measures to assess palliative need in patients severely affected by multiple
Katherine E Sleeman1, Irene J Higginson
1Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. katherine.sleeman@kcl.ac.uk
Context:
Most patient-reported outcome measurement tools in multiple sclerosis (MS) are geared toward less severely affected patients. Palliative care outcome measures have not been validated in patients with MS.
Objectives:
To assess the psychometric properties of the Core-Palliative Care Outcome Scale (Core-POS) and POS-MS-Symptoms (POS-MS-S) in patients severely affected by MS.
Methods:
Secondary analyses were conducted on data from a Phase II trial of palliative care in MS. Patients completed assessments using the following five scales: Core-POS, POS-MS-S, the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, the United Kingdom Neurological Disability Scale, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Data quality, scaling assumptions, acceptability, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Core-POS and POS-MS-S were determined using standard psychometric methods.
Results:
The 46 participants had a mean ±SD age of 52.8 ±10.6 years. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 7.9 ± 1.2. Missing data were low (0 and 0.2% for the Core-POS and POS-MS-S, respectively), and floor and ceiling effects were absent. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha for the Core-POS and POS-MS-S were 0.72 [95% CI 0.56-0.84] and 0.81 [95% CI 0.72-0.89], respectively). Construct validity was consistent with a priori hypotheses 17 of 20 times.
Conclusion:
Psychometric analyses confirm that the Core-POS and POS-MS-S are acceptable, reliable, and valid in patients severely affected by MS.
