Teleassessment in Ataxic Multiple Sclerosis

It will be used to assessment the severity of ataxia. ICARS consists of 4 sub-titles: posture and gait disorders, kinetic functions, speech disorders, and oculomotor disorders. The score range is in the range of 0-100, and higher scores indicate increased disease severity. It is a reliable and valid scale for ataxic MS patients. The assessment will take 20 minutes.

It will be used to assess the severity of ataxia. It is a scale that evaluates performance in 8 items as walking, standing, sitting, speech disorder, finger tracking, finger-nose test, rapid alternative hand movements, and heel-tibia test. The score range is 0-40, and an increase in the score indicates increased ataxia severity. It is a reliable and valid scale for ataxic MS patients. The assessment will take 15 minutes.

Being between Expanded Disability Status Scale 3-5 and having a pyramidal system score below 3 are among the inclusion criteria. At the beginning of the study, all patients will be evaluated for EDSS, and patients who do not meet the criteria will not be included in the study. The assessment will take 15 minutes. The EDSS ranges from 0 to 10 in 0.5 unit increments that represent higher levels of disability. EDSS steps 1.0 to 4.5 refer to people with MS who are able to walk without any aid. EDSS steps 5.0 to 9.5 are defined by the impairment to walking.

It will be used in the cognitive status assessment. Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 21 is among the exclusion criteria. At the beginning of the study, all patients will be given a MOCA, and patients who do not meet the criteria will not be included in the study. It assesses different cognitive dimensions including attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial skills, abstract thinking, calculation, and orientation. The lowest score that can be obtained from the scale is 0, and the highest score is 30. Higher scores indicate a better cognitive levels. It is a reliable scale used for cognitive screening for MS patients. The assessment will take 10 minutes.

It will be used to assess patients' satisfaction of the tele assessment method. After the tele-assesment is over, the questionnaire will be applied. The questionnaire consists of 14 items and patients are asked to rate each item from 1 to 5. The lowest score is 14 and the highest score is 70. A higher score indicates a higher level of satisfaction. It is a reliable and valid questionnaire for MS patients.

It will be used to evaluate the usability of the teleassessment method by patients. After the tele-assesment is over, the questionnaire will be applied. The questionnaire consists of 21 items and patients are asked to rate each item from 1 to 7.The lowest score is 21 and the highest score is 147. A higher score indicates a higher level of usability. It is a reliable and valid questionnaire in MS patients.