Morning Stiffness Assessment Scale for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Turkish Adaptation and Validity and Reliability

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to adapt into Turkish the Morning Stiffness Assessment Scale for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, developed in 2021, and to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version. Design: The study was conducted with a methodological design. Methods: The present methodological study was carried out with 150 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis between August and November 2024, using the 'Patient Information Form' and 'Morning Stiffness Assessment Scale (MSAS)' in the data collection process. Results: The findings indicated that the KMO value was 0.737, and the Bartlett's Test of Sphericity yielded a significant result (chi(2) = 462.745; p < 0.001). There was a range of 0.48 to 0.83 for the factor loadings of the items. The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit (chi(2) = 52.73, df = 33, chi(2)/df = 1.59, RMSEA = 0.063, CFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.053, TLI = 0.94, and RMR = 0.037). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the overall scale was 0.792, while the subscales yielded coefficients of 0.734 and 0.716. The validity and reliability of the Turkish version were demonstrated without requiring any modifications to the original scale. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the MSAS was found to be a valid and reliable tool consistent with Turkish culture. It consists of ten items and two dimensions. The scale provides a practical and standardized assessment tool for nurses to evaluate and monitor morning stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to support symptom management in clinical practice.