Surreal illustration of fluctuating muscle weakness in Myasthenia Gravis.

Living Well with Myasthenia Gravis: A Guide to Quality of Life

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Adapting to life with Myasthenia Gravis through translated quality-of-life assessments."

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. MG can significantly impact daily life, making routine activities challenging. Understanding the disease and its effects is the first step toward managing it effectively.

Recognizing the need for specific assessment tools, researchers have focused on adapting and validating questionnaires that capture the unique challenges faced by individuals with MG. One such tool is the "Questionnaire of Life Quality Specific for Myasthenia Gravis - 15 items" (MG-QOL15).

Originally developed in English, the MG-QOL15 has been translated and adapted for use in various countries, including Brazil. This cross-cultural adaptation ensures that the questionnaire accurately reflects the experiences and concerns of diverse populations with MG. The goal is to provide a reliable and culturally relevant tool for assessing quality of life, guiding clinical interventions, and improving patient outcomes.

Understanding the MG-QOL15 and Its Adaptation

Surreal illustration of fluctuating muscle weakness in Myasthenia Gravis.

The MG-QOL15 is designed to quickly and efficiently evaluate the quality of life for individuals with MG. It consists of 15 items that cover various aspects of daily functioning and well-being. Each item is scored from zero to four, with a maximum total score of 60. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of MG on quality of life. The questionnaire addresses key areas such as:

When adapting the MG-QOL15 for use in different cultures, it's essential to maintain the original meaning and intent of each item. This involves a rigorous process of translation, back-translation, and cognitive testing to ensure that the questionnaire is both linguistically and culturally appropriate.

Physical Functioning: Assesses difficulties with activities such as walking, eating, and personal grooming.
Emotional Well-being: Addresses feelings of frustration, depression, and being overwhelmed.
Social and Recreational Activities: Examines limitations in social interactions, hobbies, and other leisure pursuits.
Work and Family Life: Explores the impact of MG on occupational skills, job status, and the ability to meet family needs.

In the Brazilian adaptation of the MG-QOL15, researchers followed a comprehensive methodology to ensure its validity and reliability. This included translating the original English version into Portuguese, revising and back-translating the text, and conducting cognitive interviews with patients to identify any difficulties in understanding the questions. The final version was refined based on patient feedback to ensure its relevance and clarity for the Brazilian population.

Conclusion: Empowering Patients with MG Through Accurate Assessment

The availability of culturally adapted assessment tools like the Brazilian MG-QOL15 represents a significant step forward in the care of individuals with Myasthenia Gravis. By accurately capturing the patient's perspective on their quality of life, these tools can inform clinical decision-making, facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, and ultimately improve outcomes.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What is Myasthenia Gravis (MG), and how does it affect daily life?

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. This disease significantly impacts daily life, making routine activities challenging. Individuals with MG may experience difficulties with physical functioning, emotional well-being, social and recreational activities, and work or family life. Understanding these effects is crucial for effective management of the disease.

What is the MG-QOL15 assessment tool, and how does it help patients?

The MG-QOL15 is a questionnaire specifically designed to evaluate the quality of life for individuals with Myasthenia Gravis. It consists of 15 items that cover various aspects of daily functioning and well-being. By providing a structured way to assess the impact of MG, the MG-QOL15 helps healthcare providers understand the patient's perspective, guide clinical interventions, and improve patient outcomes. It addresses key areas such as physical functioning, emotional well-being, social and recreational activities, and work and family life.

How is the MG-QOL15 adapted for use in different cultures, such as in Brazil?

Adapting the MG-QOL15 for different cultures, like the Brazilian adaptation, involves a rigorous process to ensure the questionnaire accurately reflects the experiences of diverse populations. This includes translating the original English version into the local language (Portuguese in Brazil), back-translating it to identify discrepancies, and conducting cognitive interviews with patients. These interviews help to identify any difficulties in understanding the questions, ensuring the questionnaire is both linguistically and culturally appropriate. The final version is refined based on patient feedback to ensure its relevance and clarity for the specific population.

What aspects of daily life does the MG-QOL15 assess, and how are the results interpreted?

The MG-QOL15 assesses several key areas of daily life impacted by Myasthenia Gravis. These include physical functioning (walking, eating, grooming), emotional well-being (frustration, depression), social and recreational activities (limitations in social interactions and hobbies), and work and family life (impact on job and family responsibilities). Each item in the questionnaire is scored from zero to four, with a maximum total score of 60. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of MG on the patient's quality of life, helping clinicians to understand the severity and areas needing attention.

Why are culturally adapted assessment tools like the Brazilian MG-QOL15 important for managing Myasthenia Gravis?

Culturally adapted assessment tools like the Brazilian MG-QOL15 are vital for improving the care of individuals with Myasthenia Gravis because they accurately capture the patient's perspective on their quality of life within their cultural context. These tools inform clinical decision-making, facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers, and ultimately improve outcomes. By using a tool specifically designed and adapted for a particular cultural context, healthcare professionals can gain a more nuanced understanding of how MG affects the patient's life, leading to more personalized and effective treatment plans. This approach enhances patient-centered care and promotes a better quality of life.