Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Questionnaire (MSKQ)
is a self-administered inventory assessing patients’ knowledge about
Multiple Sclerosis. In this study, we aimed to test the reliability and
validity of MSKQ in Turkish patients.
Methods: Patients with Multiple Sclerosis who attended an education
seminar in our university hospital were enrolled in the study.
Results: Fifty-eight patients completed and returned the questionnaire
twice, before and after the seminar. Mean number of items that were
answered correctly in the first round was 12.8 (5.2), which increased to
18.7 (3.2) in the second round after the seminar. This increase was found
to be significant (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Questions regarding general characteristics of the disease
were found to be answered correctly more often than those questions
regarding diagnostic and treatment options. This finding indicates that
patients may be more interested in the general characteristics of the
disease and in the factors that may have started the disease process.
Higher number of incorrect answers regarding diagnostic and treatment
strategies may be caused by a lack of interest on the part of the patient
who may perceive these subjects to be too complex or who may choose
to leave decision-making to healthcare professionals. Also, physicians
may be unable to inform patients in these areas because of a lack of time
or resources. New molecules developed for the treatment of Multiple
Sclerosis makes it even more difficult for patients to follow and form their
own opinions about the treatment process. These results show us that
patient education is essential and our patients need more educational
resources, especially regarding treatment options. The significant increase
in the number of correct answers after the education seminar supports
the need for broader patient education (p<0.01). Turkish version of MSKQ
is a reliable and valid measure for assessing patients’ level of knowledge.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, surveys and questionnaires, diagnostic
self-evaluation