A health-related quality of life questionnaire for multiple sclerosis patients

Objective - The construction of a brief, valid and reliable HRQoL questionnaire for use in multiple sclerosis patients based on generic and disease-specific HRQoL measures. Material and methods - The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), COOP/ WONCA Charts, and Disability & Impact Profile (DIP) were used in a longitudinal study in 162 patients with multiple sclerosis. Results Factor analyses identified 2 underlying dimensions of HRQoL, relating to "physical functioning" and "psychological functioning". Selection of the 3 highest loading reliable scales on each factor resulted in a final questionnaire consisting of 3 scales of the SF-36 and 3 scales of the DTP. In total 40 items were selected; completion time is about 10 min. Conclusion - The final questionnaire adequately measured 2 dimensions of HRQoL. The length of the questionnaire is acceptable for patients with MS in view of respondent burden.