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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 42276022 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107288

Validation and psychometric properties of the Multiple Sclerosis Autonomy Score (MSAS) in a French cohort: The FOCAL-MS 2 study.

Mult Scler Relat Disord 112:107288

Authors: Cécile Donzé, Claude Mekies, Catherine Mouzawak, David Pau, Alexandre Civet, Lucie Brechenmacher, Géraud Paillot, Mikael Cohen, Patrick Vermersch

Affiliations

  • Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital Saint Philibert, Lomme, France; Faculté de Médecine, Maïeutique, Sciences de la Santé, Lille, France; Neurethic Lab, ETHICS, (EA7446), Université Catholique de Lille, FLSH, Lille, France; ETHICS EA 7446, Université Catholique de Lille, Lille, France.
  • Neurologie; Ramsay Clinique Des Cedres 31700 Toulouse, France.
  • Structure régionale neuro SEP SYNAPSE, Le Vésinet, France.
  • Roche SAS, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
  • Association Aventure Hustive, Saint-Malo, France.
  • Université Nice Côte d'Azur, UR2CA-URRIS CRCSEP CHU Nice Pasteur, Service de Neurologie, Nice, 06002, France.
  • Univ. Lille, INSERM UMR1172 LilNCog, CHU Lille, FHU Precise, Lille, France.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults, with profound implications for personal autonomy, mental health, and social participation. As no Patient-Reported Outcome Measure adequately captures patient autonomy, we developed the Multiple Sclerosis Autonomy Scale (MSAS). The FOCAL-MS 2 study aims to confirm the psychometric properties of the MSAS score.

METHODS

Patients included between 01/02/2024 and 19/04/2024 were routinely followed for 12 months throughout France. Health Care Professionals (HCPs) sent patients the 36-item MSAS questionnaire to complete before out-patient visits. Patients also completed the MSAS upon inclusion, 15 (D15), 30 (D30), and 360 (D360) days later. Validation included internal consistency, reliability, unidimensionality, multidimensionality, and construct validity.

RESULTS

A total of 199 patients (74.4% females; age 49.7 years) were included. The MSAS presented good internal consistency at inclusion (Cronbach's alpha = 0.845) and good test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.72 at D15 and 0.75 at D30). As each dimension was required to maintain consistency, one item was removed to improve the instrument's properties.

CONCLUSION

The 35-question MSAS is a valid, consistent, and reliable tool to assess patient autonomy in MS and satisfies patients' and HCPs' needs.

MeSH

Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Psychometrics