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The validation of an Italian version of the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire

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Abstract

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common and disabling symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its staging is complex because of its episodic nature. Patient-reported assessments are essential in evaluating this disabling symptom. The Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) is considered a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of FOG severity. The aim of our study was to validate the Italian version of FOG-Q and to investigate for its association with several clinical aspects of PD. Fifty-one PD patients were administered the FOG-Q and the timed up and go test. Moreover, patients were evaluated for the unified PD rating scale (UPDRS), the Hoehn and Yahr Scale (H&Y) and the falls-efficacy scale [FES(S)]. Mean (SD) FOG-Q item scores ranged between 1.5 and 2.7 (1.0–1.4); corrected item–total correlations ranged between 0.63 and 0.86. The total FOG-Q score ranged between 0 and 24, with a mean + SD of 12.6 (6.2) and a median (q1–q3) of 12 (9–17). Reliability was 0.91. FOG-Q correlated with H&Y (0.36, p = 0.0091), UPDRS part III (rS = 0.27, p = 0.054), PD duration (rS = 0.35, p < 0.01), FES(S) (rS = 0.58, p < 0.001) and the timed up and go test (rS = 0.51, p = 0.001). Non-significant positive correlations were observed for dyskinesia and motor fluctuations. Our study validates the Italian version of the FOG-Q, in that it results being a reliable instrument for assessing FOG in PD patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Neurologica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Nicola Tambasco, Simone Simoni, Francesco Ripandelli, Elona Brahimi, Elisa Sacchini, Pasquale Nigro, Erica Marsili & Paolo Calabresi

  2. Dipartimento di Epidemiologia, Regione Umbria, Perugia, Italy

    Paolo Eusebi

  3. I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy

    Paolo Calabresi

Authors
  1. Nicola Tambasco
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  2. Simone Simoni
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  3. Paolo Eusebi
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  4. Francesco Ripandelli
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  5. Elona Brahimi
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  6. Elisa Sacchini
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  7. Pasquale Nigro
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  8. Erica Marsili
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  9. Paolo Calabresi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicola Tambasco.

Appendix: An Italian Version of FOG-Q

Appendix: An Italian Version of FOG-Q

  1. 1.

    Quando cammina peggio, la sua andatura è:

    1. 0.

      Normale

    2. 1.

      Quasi normale – un po’ rallentata

    3. 2.

      Lenta, ma completamente indipendente

    4. 3.

      Necessita di assistenza

    5. 4.

      Non può camminare

  2. 2.

    Le difficoltà nella marcia influenzano le sue attività quotidiane?

    1. 5.

      In nessun modo

    2. 6.

      Lievemente

    3. 7.

      Moderatamente

    4. 8.

      Severamente

    5. 9.

      Non può camminare

  3. 3.

    Ha l’impressione che i piedi rimangano incollati a terra mentre cammina, facendo una curva o provando a iniziare a camminare (sensazione di immobilizzazione)?

    1. 10.

      Mai

    2. 11.

      Molto raramente – circa una volta al mese

    3. 12.

      Raramente – circa una volta a settimana

    4. 13.

      Spesso – circa una volta al giorno

    5. 14.

      Ogni volta che cammina

  4. 4.

    Quanto è durato il suo più lungo episodio di sensazione di immobilizzazione?

    1. 15.

      Mai provato

    2. 16.

      1–2 secondi

    3. 17.

      3–10 secondi

    4. 18.

      11–30 secondi

    5. 19.

      Non riesce a camminare per più di 30 secondi

  5. 5.

    Quanto dura la sua tipica esitazione nel compiere il primo passo (sensazione di immobilizzazione quando inizia il primo passo)?

    1. 20.

      Non ha esitazione

    2. 21.

      Impiega più di 1 secondo per iniziare a camminare

    3. 22.

      Impiega più di 3 secondi per iniziare a camminare

    4. 23.

      Impiega più di 10 secondi per iniziare a camminare

    5. 24.

      Impiega più di 30 secondi per iniziare a camminare

  6. 6.

    Quanto dura di solito la sua tipica esitazione facendo una curva (sensazione di immobilizzazione facendo una curva)?

    1. 0.

      Nessuna

    2. 1.

      Riprende a girare in 1–2 secondi

    3. 2.

      Riprende a girare in 3–10 secondi

    4. 3.

      Riprende a girare in 11–30 secondi

    5. 4.

      Riprende a girare in 30 secondi o più

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Tambasco, N., Simoni, S., Eusebi, P. et al. The validation of an Italian version of the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire. Neurol Sci 36, 759–764 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-2037-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-2037-5

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