Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Guy's Neurological Disability Scale
Pappalardo, A.; Patti, F.
Functional Neurology 25(4): 223-233
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5264 PMID: 21388584 Document Number: 647017
The aim of this study was to assess the reliability, validity and sensitivity of the Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) translated into Italian and administered to Italian-speaking patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In total, 202 outpatients with MS were enrolled in the study; 153 had relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and 49 had secondary progressive (SP) MS; 189 healthy individuals were recruited as control subjects. Inter-rater agreement, as expressed by the alpha coefficient, was 0.83. Intra-rater agreement was 0.91. Compared with the healthy subjects, the MS patients recorded significantly higher mean total scores on the Italian version of the GNDS. The mean GNDS total score of the patients with RRMS was significantly lower than that of the patients with SPMS. Cross-sectional correlations between the GNDS and the Expanded Disability Status Scale were significant in the whole sample (r=0.77; p<0.001), in the RRMS patients (r=0.65, p<0.01), and in those with SPMS (r=0.48, p<0.05). In conclusion, the Italian version of the GNDS emerges as a valid assessment instrument with adequate basic psychometric properties.