Validation of the Korean Moss Attention Rating Scale in Traumatic Brain Injury: Reliability and Validity

Objective This study aimed to translate the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS) into Korean and to validate the psychometric properties of the Korean version (K-MARS) in inpatients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Methods A prospective, single-center study was conducted, recruiting 51 patients with traumatic brain injury between 2023 and 2024. The K-MARS was translated using a standardized cross-cultural adaptation method. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also evaluated. Additional assessments of cognitive function, sleep quality, and mood were conducted to examine the convergent validity. Results The K-MARS demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. Cronbach’s alpha for the total score was 0.870, and intra-class correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability exceeded 0.90 for both the total score and all subscales. Significant correlations were observed between the K-MARS total score and overall cognitive performance, as well as with several attention-related measures, including the Trail Making Test and Digit Span Test. Conclusion The K-MARS is a psychometrically reliable and valid tool for assessing attention-related behaviors in Korean inpatients with msTBI. By capturing behaviorally observable attention deficits, the K-MARS helps identify individual attentional problems and guides the development of tailored cognitive rehabilitation plans.