Korean version of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised: A Pilot Study on the Reliability and Validity

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 25(2); 2007 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2007;25(2): 149-154.

한글판 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised : 신뢰도와 타당도에 관한 예비연구

김현영, 박기형a 고성호 이승철 남유현 김주한 김승현

한양대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 가천의과학대학교 신경과학교실a

Korean version of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised: A Pilot Study on the Reliability and Validity

Hyun Young Kim

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul Department of Neurology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Inchona, Korea

Abstract

Background: The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) is a quantitative measure of ALS-related physical deficit with established reliability and validity in prospective clinical research. This study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of ALSFRS-R (K-ALSFRS-R).
Methods: The subjects of the study were 51 patients with ALS diagnosed on the basis of El Escorial criteria. The patients were evaluated by one rater using K-ALSFRS-R, Norris scale, and Appel ALS rating scale on the same day. Subsequently, K-ALSFRS-R was measured by two other raters using a videotape design. Test-retest data were obtained within the time interval of 7 days.
Results: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were high. Inter-rater comparisons showed significant reliability with Kappa or Kendall’s tau-b value. Moreover, K-ALSFRS-R scores correlated significantly with clinical status as measured by Norris and Appel ALS rating scale.
Conclusions: Our results showed that K-ALSFRS-R would be a reliable and useful instrument for the evaluation of functional status in patients with ALS.KeyWords:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), Korean version, Validity, Reliability