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Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS)
Availability
Availability: Permission for use should be sought from the author, Dr. Jeremy Hobart.
Classification
Supplemental
Short Description of Instrument
Construct measured: Walking ability
Generic vs. disease specific: Disease specific
Means of administration: Self-administered
Intended respondent: Patient
# of items: 12
# of subscales and names of sub-scales: N/A
# of items per sub-scale: N/A
Comments/Special Instructions
Scoring: Individual items are scored on a 5 point Likert scale: 1 (Not at all), 2 (A little), 3 (Moderately), 4 (Quite a bit), 5 (Extremely). A total score can be generated and reported on a 0 to 100 scale by subtracting the minimum score possible (12) from the patient's score, dividing by the maximum score possible minus the minimum possible(60-12, or 48), and multiplying the result by 100.
 
Background: The MSWS-12 was designed as a disease-specific, patient-based instrument for use in clinical trials and clinical practice, to capture the complex impact of MS on walking ability. It contains 12 questions with Likert type responses and has a recall period of 2 weeks.
References
Hobart JC, Riazi A, Lamping DL, Fitzpatrick R, Thompson AJ. Measuring the impact of MS on walking ability: the 12-item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12). Neurology 2003 Jan 14;60(1):31-36.
 
McGuigan C, Hutchinson M. Confirming the validity and responsiveness of the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). Neurology 2004;62:2103-2105.
 
Motl R, Snook E. Confirmation and extension of the validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). J Neurol Sci 2008;268-69-73.

 

Document last updated February 2018
Rationale/Justification
Strengths/Weaknesses: Requires self report.
 
Psychometric Properties: The psychometric properties of the MSWS-12 have been extensively evaluated in diverse MS populations in both community and hospital settings, with demonstration of internal consistency, high reliability (ICC=.941, Crohnbach's alpha .94-.97)covergent and discriminant validity and good generalizability. Responsive to change following IV steroid treatment for relapse in a UK hospital based sample and longitudinally in Irish outpatient and community based samples. The MSWS-12 is less prone to floor and ceiling effects than are other tools, suggesting adequate assessment of the impact of walking impairment across the range of disability. Inevitably, there are floor effects in samples with very impaired mobility.
 
Administration: Less than 5 minutes to complete.