MSA-QoL: disease-specific questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in multiple system atrophy: validation of the German translation

• Published in: Nervenarzt 2013-06, Vol.84 (6), p.709-714
• Main Authors: Krismer, F, Duerr, S, Minnerop, M, Klockgether, T, Stamelou, M, Eggert, K M, Oertel, W H, Schrag, A, Poewe, W, Wenning, G K
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Austria; Female; Germany; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple System Atrophy - diagnosis; Multiple System Atrophy - psychology; Psychometrics - methods; Quality of Life - psychology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translating
• ISSN: 1433-0407
• DOI: 10.1007/s00115-013-3764-1

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder which causes early sustained disability and quality of life impairment. Recently, a self-reported questionnaire focusing on MSA-specific symptoms (Multiple System Atrophy Quality of Life questionnaire, MSA-QoL) was developed in the English language. This article reports the validation of the German translation of the MSA-QoL. Translation of the MSA-QoL was implemented in a 3-tiered approach including a forward translation, a back translation and an independent review. For the validation study 38 consecutive patients with MSA according to the consensus criteria were recruited by the participating centers in a German-Austrian cohort. Data were analyzed using standard psychometric procedures. As determined by the independent review, the German translation of the MSA-QoL was classified as fully equivalent to the English version. The validation study confirmed good psychometric properties of the rating scale. The German translation of the MSA-QoL was shown to be a reliable patient-reported rating scale to determine health-related quality of life in MSA patients.