Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle weakness and fatigue. The symptoms of the disease fluctuate throughout the day and from day to day. Among the commonly used outc
ome measures in clinical research is the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score. The scale is composed of 13 items and assesses the overall impairment of the body.
Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score.
Methods: The study included 20 participants with confirmed diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, receiving regular care at the Clinical Institute for Clinical Neurophysiotherapy. Participants were informed about the testing procedure, and with their written consent, relevant data regarding gender, age, weight, height and body mass index were obtained. Assuming normal data distribution, we calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed a high level of intraclass correlation (ICC 0.996) and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.998) among the results of the same rater, confirming the reliability of assessment. The correlation between raters was slightly lower (ICC 0.991), yet still statistically significant, and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.995) indicates excellent reliability.
Discussion and conclusion: Both intraclass correlations are excellent and Cronbach’s alpha is high. The results confirm a high degree of reliability within the same rater’s assessments and significant consistency among different raters. Despite the inherent subjectivity of assessments, the results indicate the usefulness of the scale in clinical practice and for research purposes. The scale is reliable measuring tool, suitable for evaluating patients and monitoring the effectiveness of treatments.
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