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Psychometric properties of the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Psychometric properties of the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale

Christian Rummey, Louise A Corben, Martin B Delatycki, S H Subramony, Khalaf Bushara, Christopher M Gomez, Joseph Chad Hoyle, Grace Yoon, Bernard Ravina, Katherine D Mathews, …
Neurology. Genetics, Vol.5(6), pp.371-371
12/2019
DOI: 10.1212/NXG.0000000000000371
PMCID: PMC6927357
PMID: 32042904
url
https://doi.org/10.1212/NXG.0000000000000371View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

To investigate the psychometric properties of the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale neurologic examination (FARSn) and its subscores, as well as the influence of the modifications resulting in the now widely used modified FARS (mFARS) examination. Based on cross-sectional FARS data from the FA-Clinical Outcome Measures cohort, we conducted correlation-based psychometric analyses to investigate the interplay of items and subscores within the FARSn/mFARS constructs. The results provide support for both the FARSn and the mFARS constructs, as well as individually for their upper limb and lower limb coordination components. The omission of the peripheral nervous system subscore (D) and 2 items of the bulbar subscore (A) in the mFARS strengthens the overall construct compared with the complete FARS. A correlation-based psychometric analysis of the neurologic FARSn score justifies the overall validity of the scale. In addition, omission of items of limited functional significance as created in the mFARS improves the features of the measures. Such information is crucial to the ongoing application of the mFARS in natural history studies and clinical trials. Additional analyses of longitudinal changes will be necessary to fully ascertain its utility, especially in nonambulant patients.

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