Description of the Questionnaire

The MSIS-29 (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale) is a questionnaire designed to assess how Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects a person’s daily life. It consists of 29 questions, 20 of which relate to the physical impact and 9 to the psychological impact of the disease. The questions refer to the individual’s experiences during the past two weeks, and responses are given on a five-point scale ranging from “Not at all” to “Extremely.” Higher total scores indicate a greater negative impact of MS on the person’s daily functioning.

Data Analysis and Use

Responses are analyzed based on two separate total scores, one for the physical and one for the psychological dimension. The results can be used to assess the overall burden of the disease, monitor disease progression, evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, and support research studies related to the quality of life in people with MS. Total scores can be converted into percentages (0–100 scale) to facilitate comparison and statistical analysis.

Objective

The purpose of the MSIS-29 is to capture the subjective experience of individuals with MS regarding the physical and psychological effects of the disease. Its goal is to enhance clinical understanding of the patient’s condition, support decision-making for personalized care, and facilitate the evaluation of the effectiveness of various interventions in both clinical and research contexts.

Scoring

Each question is rated on a five-point scale: Not at all (1), A little (2), Moderately (3), Quite a lot (4), Extremely (5). The total score for the physical dimension ranges from 20 to 100, and for the psychological dimension from 9 to 45. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of the disease on the respective dimension.

References

Hobart J., et al. (2001). The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29): A new patient-based outcome measure. Brain, 124(5), 962–973.
Hoogervorst ELJ (2004). Dutch translation of the MSIS-29.
Ford HL, Gerry E, Johnson M, et al. (2001). Health status and quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 23(12), 516–521.
McGuigan C, Hutchinson M. (2004). Reliability of the MSIS-29 in an Irish population with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis, 10(5), 539–541.