E ISSN 2791-7851
Volume : Issue : Year : 2023
The Modal
Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Research
Further Validity of the Short Version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis [J Mult Scler Res]
J Mult Scler Res. 2021; 1(1): 7-12 | DOI: 10.4274/jmsr.galenos.2021.6-4

Further Validity of the Short Version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Zuhal Abasıyanık1, Turhan Kahraman2, Pinar Yigit1, Cavid Baba3, Ozge Ertekin4, Serkan Ozakbas3
1Dokuz Eylul University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
2Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey
3Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Izmir, Turkey
4Dokuz Eylul University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: There is scarce data on the utility of the short version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Thus, this study aimed to expand the validity of the ABC-6 scale and compare it with the original version of the 16-item ABC scale (ABC-16) in pwMS.
METHODS: In total, 156 patients were included (median age: 35 years, 73.1% female and 26.9% male) in this study. The ABC-16 and ABC-6, timed up-and-go test (TUG), TUG-cognitive, six-minute walk test, timed 25-foot walk, MS walking scale, single-leg stance test, modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis, Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), and epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were assessed. Validity was assessed in terms of criterion, convergent, discriminant, and known-group validity.
RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the ABC-6 and ABC-16 was 0.974 (p<0.001). The ABC-16 and ABC-6 were strongly correlated with measures of the expanded disability status scale, all walking and balance tests, and physical and psychosocial subscores of MFIS (rs =-0.520 to -0.811, p<0.05). Moderate correlations were found with a cognitive subscore of fatigue, cognitive processing speed, visuospatial memory, and BDI-II (rs =-0.321 to -0.446, p<0.05). Low correlations were found in verbal memory and ESS scores (rs =-0.160 to -0.246, p<0.05). PwMS with a moderatesevere disability had significantly lower ABC-6 scores than that of patients with mild disability (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The ABC-6 demonstrated high validity for measuring balance confidence in pwMS. Our findings strengthen the clinical utility of the ABC-6 in pwMS.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, balance confidence, balance impairment, validity

Zuhal Abasıyanık, Turhan Kahraman, Pinar Yigit, Cavid Baba, Ozge Ertekin, Serkan Ozakbas. Further Validity of the Short Version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. J Mult Scler Res. 2021; 1(1): 7-12

Corresponding Author: Zuhal Abasıyanık, Türkiye
Manuscript Language: English
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