Translation and validation of the multiple sclerosis knowledge assessment scale for use in Brazil

Denison Pedrosa; Natália Cirino Talim; Shirley Lacerda; Rodrigo Barbosa Thomaz; Rodolfo Francisco Marques; Henrique Sued Blanco Silva; Júlia Cristina Silva Rezende; Guilherme Santos Batista; Gabriel Eduardo Coelho Pinto Pinto; Lucas Bittar Sesso Freitas; Thales Ponsá Pinto; Carolina Reis Araújo Abrantes; Paulo Pereira Christo; Marco Lana-Peixoto

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1789408

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Table of Contents

CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2024; 82(S 01): S1-S52
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789408

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Translation and validation of the multiple sclerosis knowledge assessment scale for use in Brazil

Authors

Denison Pedrosa

¹Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
Natália Cirino Talim

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Shirley Lacerda

¹Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
Rodrigo Barbosa Thomaz

¹Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
Rodolfo Francisco Marques

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Henrique Sued Blanco Silva

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Júlia Cristina Silva Rezende

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Guilherme Santos Batista

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Gabriel Eduardo Coelho Pinto Pinto

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Lucas Bittar Sesso Freitas

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Thales Ponsá Pinto

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Carolina Reis Araújo Abrantes

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Paulo Pereira Christo

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
Marco Lana-Peixoto

²Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Investigação de Esclerose Múltipla, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.

Abstract

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Address for correspondence: Marco A. Lana Peixoto (email: marco.lanapeixoto@gmail.com).

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition of the central nervous system that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. With the recent emergence of various medications for its treatment, the development of patient-reported outcome measures has become increasingly important to ensure adherence. The Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Assessment Scale (MSKAS) is a tool validated in 2021 and designed to measure patient knowledge about the disease.

Objective: To translate and validate the original English-language MSKAS into Brazilian Portuguese and validate its cultural and linguistic equivalence for application in Brazil.

Methods: The MSKAS consists of 22 true/false statements assessing patient knowledge of MS pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment. The questionnaire underwent a rigorous translation and cross-cultural adaptation process following standardized guidelines. This involved initial translation by two independent bilingual translators, followed by back translation into English by a native English-speaking professional. Subsequently, a specialized committee, comprising professionals from various disciplines, reviewed and refined the translated version to ensure semantic and conceptual equivalence, adapting the content to the cultural context of the target population.

Results: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the MSKAS exhibited no significant conceptual discrepancies compared to the original English version. Following review and approval by the multiprofessional committee, the final version of the MSKAS in Brazilian Portuguese was deemed to be both linguistically accurate and culturally appropriate for use in Brazil.

Conclusion: The translation and validation of the MSKAS to Brazilian Portuguese is important, as this tool assesses patient understanding of the basic concepts of MS. Analyzing the comprehension of the disease across different regions of the country may aid in the development of educational strategies and enhance the active involvement of patients in their treatment.