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Abstract
Freezing of gait (FOG) is difficult to measure due to its unpredictable occurrence.
This study investigated: (1) whether the new freezing of gait questionnaire (NFOG-Q)
is a reliable measure of freezing by comparing patients' ratings with those of carers'
and (2) whether adding a video improved its reliability. Non-demented people with
Parkinson's disease (PD) (N=102) and their carers of similar age and cognitive status
were recruited from movement disorders clinics in three countries. The NFOG-Q was
administered to carers and patients independently before and after watching a video
showing several examples of FOG. Patients had very high agreement between their pre-
and post-video detection of FOG (Kappa=0.91). However, this was less than in carers
(Kappa=0.79). The video had a significant influence (p=0.01) on the rating of FOG
severity (duration) but not on the estimation of its functional impact. Post-video
freezing severity scores in the 69 freezers showed high agreement with carers' scores
(ICC=0.78 [0.65;0.87]). We conclude that the NFOG-Q is a reliable tool to detect and
evaluate the impact and severity of FOG. Adding a video does not add to the sensitivity
and specificity of FOG detection but influences the estimation of FOG severity.