Highlights
- •Unemployment is a significant problem for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).
- •The Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ-23) is a useful self-report tool that examines work-related problems in pwMS across three domains: physical, psychological/cognitive, and external barriers.
- •Employment-associated factors need to be assessed to optimize workplace and raise awareness among employers about the special needs of pwMS. The Spanish version of the MSWDQ-23 shows appropriate feasibility, reliability, and discriminative performance in clinical practice as a patient-reported outcome.
Abstract
Introduction
Unemployment is a significant problem for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The
MS Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ-23) is a self-report tool to assess work-related
problems in people with MS across three domains: physical, psychological/cognitive,
and external barriers. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties
of the Spanish version of the MSWDQ-23.
Methods
A multicentre, non-interventional, cross-sectional study in adult patients with relapsing-remitting
multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or primary progressive (PPMS) multiple sclerosis (McDonald
2010 criteria) was conducted. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics as well
as health-related quality of life using the 29-item Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale
(MSIS-29) were collected.
Results
A total of 201 subjects were studied (mean age: 43.9 years, 60% female, 86% with RRMS).
Median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (score: 2.0 [IQR: 1.0–3.5]). The employment
rate was 47.3% (n = 95). The MSWDQ-23 was feasible (90% response rate), with high
internal consistency and test-retest reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94 and intraclass
correlation coefficient-ICC > 0.87). MSWDQ-23 scores significantly and positively
correlated with EDSS and both MSIS-29 physical and psychological subscales scores,
showing an adequate convergent validity. Regarding construct validity, scores of patients
with PPMS were higher than those of patients with RRMS, reaching statistically significance
in MSWDQ-23 physical barriers domain and total scores.
Conclusion
The Spanish version of the MSWDQ-23 shows appropriate feasibility, reliability, and
discriminative performance as a patient-reported outcome. MSWDQ-23 may be a valuable
addition to measure the impact of a comprehensive spectrum of difficulties experienced
by people with MS in the workplace.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 03, 2018
Accepted:
April 2,
2018
Received:
January 22,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
