The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-15): Validation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Greek Version in MS Patients

Abstract

Sexuality and intimate relationships are a significant part of life and well-being. The presence of a physical illness such as multiple sclerosis (MS) has the potential to complicate the lifelong course of sexual development and the ways in which one defines and expresses one’s sexuality. The objective of this study was to develop a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the MSISQ-15 so that it can be used as a tool to evaluate SD in Greek patients with MS. A total of 127 individuals, 68 Greek MS patients and 59 healthy persons for the control group who visited urology department of the National Rehabilitation Centre of Athens completed the Greek version of MSISQ-15 along with Female Sexual Function Index for women and International Index of Erection Function at baseline (test) and 3 weeks later for the MS patients, (retest). Data were analyzed for measurement properties. Content validity was adequate. The Greek version of MSISQ-15 showed a good internal consistency with Cronbach’s a > 70 for total score and the three scales of MSISQ-15 for the test and retest. In the MS patient group, no floor or ceiling effects were seen for the total score, primary, secondary and tertiary symptoms. A test–retest reliability shows that for primary symptoms and measurements 3 weeks after, correlation was r = .94, for secondary was r = .88, while for tertiary was r = .89. All correlations were significant at p < .001. In conclusion, this Greek version of MSISQ-15 was tested following well-established guidelines on measurement properties and showed good validity and reliability. It is reproducible, reliable and valid for the Greek population and may be used as a tool for assessing the impact of sexual dysfunction in patients with MS.