Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29)

Description

The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) is a questionnaire designed to assess the extent to which multiple sclerosis (MS) affects an individual’s daily life. According to the provided source, the assessment focuses on the impact of the condition during the previous two weeks.

The scale provides a structured way to document how MS-related symptoms and limitations influence everyday functioning and overall health status.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the MSIS-29 is to assess the impact of multiple sclerosis on daily functioning and general health status.

The instrument can be used to capture how the condition affects activities, mobility, participation, and other aspects of everyday life.

Reference Period

The MSIS-29 evaluates the individual’s experience during the past two weeks.

This reference period allows the questionnaire to capture relatively recent effects of the condition and may support comparison across different assessment time points.

Score Interpretation

According to the source document, higher scores indicate a greater impact of the condition on daily functioning and a poorer health status.

Accordingly, lower scores reflect less perceived impact of multiple sclerosis, whereas higher scores indicate greater functional burden.

Areas of Assessment

According to the provided source, the instrument is related to the following functional domains:

Activities

General limitations

Mobility and movement

General participation.

These areas allow the impact of the condition to be examined beyond isolated physical symptoms and in relation to broader everyday functioning.

Type of Instrument and Target Population

The MSIS-29 is classified in the source material as a questionnaire.

It is intended for:

adults and older adults.

The source lists multiple sclerosis, ALS, and more broadly conditions involving the nervous system and sensory functions as relevant clinical areas.

Statistical Analysis

The provided source does not include detailed information about the scoring of the 29 items, specific subscales, score transformation procedures, or numerical validity and reliability coefficients.

Based on the information available in the file, the overall interpretation follows the principle that higher scores correspond to a greater impact of the condition.

Precise scoring and statistical procedures should therefore follow the official MSIS-29 documentation.

Applications

The MSIS-29 may be used in clinical and research settings to assess the impact of multiple sclerosis on everyday life.

It may support the monitoring of functional status, the identification of changes over time, and the investigation of how the condition influences mobility, daily activities, and participation.

References

Hobart J. Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). 2001.

Dutch version: Hoogervorst ELJ. 2004.