Background: Cognitive impairment is among the most debilitating outcomes of multiple sclerosis (MS). Although several neuropsychological tests and self-report cognitive measures have been used to assess cognitive impairment, they may not be sensitive to change over time, or may not be feasible to administer in a clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the 8-item PROMIS Cognitive Abilities and Cognitive Concerns Scales in a large community-based sample of people with MS. The PROMIS Cognitive Abilities and Cognitive Concerns Scales derive from the National Institutes of Health-funded Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), an item repository that capitalizes on recent psychometric advances to produce short, psychometrically sound health measures.
Methods: Mailed survey data were collected from 322 individuals recruited from two National Multiple Sclerosis Society chapters in a southwestern state.
Results: Both cognitive scales demonstrated high internal consistency reliability and were moderately correlated with self-reported depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, barriers to health promotion, health, and functional status (all correlation coefficients >0.35). In hierarchical regression analysis, the PROMIS Cognitive Concerns score added significant unique variance to the prediction of MS Incapacity Status after controlling for self-reported depressive symptoms, exercise, spiritual growth, and global health. Those who were unemployed owing to their disabilities had significantly lower PROMIS Cognitive Abilities scores and higher Cognitive Concerns scores than those who were working or those who were retired or not working for other reasons.
Conclusions: The PROMIS Cognitive Abilities and Cognitive Concerns Scales are short, psychometrically sound measures that assess an important dimension of functioning and health for people with MS.