The Social and Occupational Functioning Scale for Epilepsy (SOFSE): A brief measure of functional status in a Taiwanese sample with epilepsy

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a scale of social functioning for people with epilepsy (PWE)-the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale for Epilepsy (SOFSE). METHODS: According to the literature review and opinions from a panel of experts, PWE, and caregivers, a total of 31 questions were compiled. Questionnaires were analyzed from 172 adults with epilepsy. KEY FINDINGS: The final scale had 30 items in six dimensions. The results showed that internal consistency coefficients and test-retest reliabilities for each dimension ranged from 0.70 to 0.84 and 0.72 to 0.89, respectively. Retest reliability for the total SOFSE score was 0.92. Seven factors were extracted through principal factor analysis. Moreover, criterion-related validity was demonstrated by the significant correlations between the SOFSE and the following measures: the Mini Mental Status Examination (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), and the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (r = -0.66, p < 0.001). Finally, the differences in functional competence among patients also supported the discriminant validity of the inventory. SIGNIFICANCE: The SOFSE is a brief, psychometrically sound, and easy-to-administer measure of social functioning for use in busy clinical settings.