Contributions
Abstract: EP1397
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Background: The MS Performance Test (MSPT), a self-administered iPad®-based neurological performance assessment tool, is designed to be integrated into routine clinical care. One of the MSPT test modules, the Walking Speed Test (WST), allows MS patients to self-time their walk along a 25 foot track. Typically, the 25-Foot Walk is timed by a technician using a stopwatch. For the MSPT WST, patients click a handheld Bluetooth button at the start and stop of their walk; time is recorded on the iPad.
Goals: To determine if self-timed walking speed is as accurate, sensitive and reliable as technician timed walking speed.
Methods: The participants consisted of 30 MS patients (course: 25 relapsing remitting, 3 secondary progressive, 2 primary progressive; disease duration: mean=8.3 yrs, SD=7.7) and 29 healthy controls (HC). The two groups were equivalent in age (MS: mean=45.6 yrs, SD=11.6; HC: mean=46.3 yrs, SD=10.4), education (MS: mean=15.2 yrs, SD=2.7; HC: mean=15.7 yrs, SD=2.3), and sex (MS: 20 females; HC: 19 females). Both groups of subjects completed the WST twice on the same day. A technician simultaneously timed their walk with a stopwatch.
Results: As expected, MS patients had significantly slower walking times than the HC group both for the self-timed (p=0.02; Cohen's d effect size=.660) and technician-timed (p=0.01; Cohen's d=.708) latency measures. Absolute differences between the self-timed and technician-timed measures were small and comparable (MS, mean=0.48 sec.; HC, mean=0.37 sec.; p=0.285). Correlations between self-timed and technician-timed walking speeds were high and comparable (MS, r=0.943; HC, r=0.928). Test-retest reliability was high and comparable for the self-timed (MS, r=0.931; HC, r=0.854) and technician-timed (MS, r=0.977; HC, r=0.927) measures.
Conclusions: These results validate the use of self-timed walking speed measures for both MS patients and healthy individuals. Compared to technician-timed latency measures, self-timed measures were equally sensitive in detecting differences in walking speed between MS and HC groups. Absolute latency differences and test-retest reliability were comparable for the self-timed and technician-timed measures for both MS patients and healthy controls. Because it is self-administered, the WST, as part of the MSPT battery, has the advantage of being integrated into clinical practice without involving clinic personnel.
Disclosure:
Dr. Rao has received honoraria, royalties or consulting fees from: Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society and research funding from the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Defense, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CHDI Foundation, Biogen, and Novartis.
Dr. Alberts has received royalties or consulting fees from Biogen and Boston Scientific and research funding from the National Institutes of Health and Biogen.
Dr. Bethoux has received royalties, honoraria or consulting fees from: Acorda Therapeutics, Atlas 5D, Biogen, FLEX Pharma, Ipsen, Merz, Springer Publishing, and research funding from the Consortium of MS Centers, Biogen, Acorda Therapeutics, Adamas Pharmaceuticals, and Atlas 5D.
Dr. Miller has received royalties from Biogen and research funding from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Biogen and Novartis.
D. Schindler has received royalties from Biogen.
Drs. Rudick, Phillips and Rhodes are employed by Biogen.
J. Freiburger, M. Weber, L Mourany, D Kemeny, A Long, and C. Reece have nothing to disclose.
Abstract: EP1397
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Background: The MS Performance Test (MSPT), a self-administered iPad®-based neurological performance assessment tool, is designed to be integrated into routine clinical care. One of the MSPT test modules, the Walking Speed Test (WST), allows MS patients to self-time their walk along a 25 foot track. Typically, the 25-Foot Walk is timed by a technician using a stopwatch. For the MSPT WST, patients click a handheld Bluetooth button at the start and stop of their walk; time is recorded on the iPad.
Goals: To determine if self-timed walking speed is as accurate, sensitive and reliable as technician timed walking speed.
Methods: The participants consisted of 30 MS patients (course: 25 relapsing remitting, 3 secondary progressive, 2 primary progressive; disease duration: mean=8.3 yrs, SD=7.7) and 29 healthy controls (HC). The two groups were equivalent in age (MS: mean=45.6 yrs, SD=11.6; HC: mean=46.3 yrs, SD=10.4), education (MS: mean=15.2 yrs, SD=2.7; HC: mean=15.7 yrs, SD=2.3), and sex (MS: 20 females; HC: 19 females). Both groups of subjects completed the WST twice on the same day. A technician simultaneously timed their walk with a stopwatch.
Results: As expected, MS patients had significantly slower walking times than the HC group both for the self-timed (p=0.02; Cohen's d effect size=.660) and technician-timed (p=0.01; Cohen's d=.708) latency measures. Absolute differences between the self-timed and technician-timed measures were small and comparable (MS, mean=0.48 sec.; HC, mean=0.37 sec.; p=0.285). Correlations between self-timed and technician-timed walking speeds were high and comparable (MS, r=0.943; HC, r=0.928). Test-retest reliability was high and comparable for the self-timed (MS, r=0.931; HC, r=0.854) and technician-timed (MS, r=0.977; HC, r=0.927) measures.
Conclusions: These results validate the use of self-timed walking speed measures for both MS patients and healthy individuals. Compared to technician-timed latency measures, self-timed measures were equally sensitive in detecting differences in walking speed between MS and HC groups. Absolute latency differences and test-retest reliability were comparable for the self-timed and technician-timed measures for both MS patients and healthy controls. Because it is self-administered, the WST, as part of the MSPT battery, has the advantage of being integrated into clinical practice without involving clinic personnel.
Disclosure:
Dr. Rao has received honoraria, royalties or consulting fees from: Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society and research funding from the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Defense, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CHDI Foundation, Biogen, and Novartis.
Dr. Alberts has received royalties or consulting fees from Biogen and Boston Scientific and research funding from the National Institutes of Health and Biogen.
Dr. Bethoux has received royalties, honoraria or consulting fees from: Acorda Therapeutics, Atlas 5D, Biogen, FLEX Pharma, Ipsen, Merz, Springer Publishing, and research funding from the Consortium of MS Centers, Biogen, Acorda Therapeutics, Adamas Pharmaceuticals, and Atlas 5D.
Dr. Miller has received royalties from Biogen and research funding from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Biogen and Novartis.
D. Schindler has received royalties from Biogen.
Drs. Rudick, Phillips and Rhodes are employed by Biogen.
J. Freiburger, M. Weber, L Mourany, D Kemeny, A Long, and C. Reece have nothing to disclose.