Brief Description

The QOLMS-89 is a questionnaire designed to assess quality of life in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It consists of 89 items that form 20 distinct factors, each scored separately. These factors cover a wide range of domains, including general health, overall quality of life, physical functioning, disease-related limitations, emotional well-being, fatigue, anxiety, employment, social participation, independence, memory, language, sexual life, support, and other aspects that affect the lives of people with MS. The final score is a global quality of life index ranging from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better quality of life.

Purpose

The QOLMS-89 aims to evaluate quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. By assessing multiple dimensions of daily life, the tool allows for a comprehensive depiction of how the disease affects the psychological, social, and functional condition of the individual.

Scoring Method

This version of the questionnaire includes 89 items grouped into 20 factors. Each factor receives an individual score, and each contributes differently (with varying weights) to the final quality of life index. The maximum total score is 100, and higher scores are indicative of a better quality of life.

Validity

The questionnaire is based on a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to quality of life, covering various domains of human experience, which supports its content validity. In addition, it has been used in both international and Greek studies, reinforcing its cross-cultural validity.

Reliability

The overall reliability of the tool is very high. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient across all factors reaches 0.95, indicating excellent internal consistency.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the QOLMS-89 can be analyzed at both the global quality of life index level and by individual subscales. It supports group comparisons, monitoring of changes during therapeutic interventions, and tracking of disease impact on specific life domains. Its flexibility makes it suitable for clinical use, research protocols, and the evaluation of interventions.

References

Dourouma, A., Pita, R., Kiosseoglou, G., & Orologas, A. (2004). The influence of sexual life and demographic data on quality of life in Greek patients with multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 54(1-2), 129.
Pita, R., Kiosseoglou, G., Dourouma, D., & Orologas, A. (2002). Depression, fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Northern Greece. Hippokratia, 6(1), 62–67.
Vickrey, B. G., Perrine, K., Hays, R. D., et al. (1993). Quality of Life in Epilepsy QOLIE-89. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.