German Translation and Validation of the “Freezing of Gait Questionnaire” in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract EN

Background.

Freezing of Gait (FOG) is a disabling parkinsonian symptom.

The Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) reliably detects FOG in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Objectives.

The aim of this study was to develop a German translated version of the FOG-Q and to assess its validity.

Methods.

The translation was accomplished using forward-backward-translation.

The construct validity of the FOG-Q was examined in twenty-seven German native speaking PD patients.

Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the FOG-Q with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) II-III, the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire 39 (PDQ-39), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG).

Divergent validity was assessed by correlating the FOG-Q with the MDS-UPDRS I.

The internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha (Cα).

Results.

A good internal structure of the FOG-Q was found ( C α = 0.83 ).

Significant moderate correlations between the FOG-Q and the MDS-UPDRS item 2.13 (freezing) ( r s = 0.568 , P = 0.002 ) and between the FOG-Q and the PDQ-39 subscale mobility ( r s = 0.516 , P = 0.006 ) were found.

The lack of correlation with the MDS-UPDRS I demonstrated good divergent validity.

Conclusion.

The German FOG-Q is a valid tool to assess FOG in German native speaking PD patients.