Age and Ageing 2001; 30: 337-343
© 2001, British Geriatrics Society
Research papers |
Using the SF-36 with older adults: a cross-sectional community-based survey
Sheffield Health Economics Group and
1 Medical Care Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Abstract
Objectives: to assess the practicality and validity of using the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) in a community-dwelling population over 65, and to obtain population scores in this age group.
Design: postal survey, using a questionnaire booklet containing the SF-36 and other health-related items, of all those aged 65 or over registered with 12 general practices in Sheffield. Non-respondents received up to two reminders at 3-weekly intervals.
Sample: 9897 subjects, aged 65–104 years.
Main outcome measures: scores for the eight dimensions of the SF-36 and a modified version of the physical functioning dimension.
Results: the SF-36 achieved a response rate of 82% (n=8117) and dimension completion rates of 86.4–97.7%. Internal consistency measured by Cronbach's 
exceeded 0.80 for all dimensions except social functioning. These results compare favourably with postal surveys of younger adults. We calculated scores for older adults by age and sex. Comparison with data from younger people showed how physical health declines steeply with age, in marked contrast to mental health.
Conclusions: the SF-36 is a practical and valid instrument for use in postal surveys of older people living at home. The population scores provided here may facilitate its use in future surveys of older adults.
Keywords: postal survey, health-related quality of life, community study, SF-36
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. Agarwal, C. Schechter, and A. Zaman Assessment of functional status and quality of life after percutaneous coronary revascularisation in octogenarians Age Ageing, November 1, 2009; 38(6): 748 - 751. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Wyrick, D. Parker, D. Grabowski, H. M. Feuling, and A. V. Ng Relationships Among Walking Aids, Physical Activity, Depression, Fatigue, and Perceived Health in Assisted-Living Residents: A Pilot Study Journal of Applied Gerontology, August 1, 2008; 27(4): 511 - 522. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. R. Henwood, S. Riek, and D. R. Taaffe Strength Versus Muscle Power-Specific Resistance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., January 1, 2008; 63(1): 83 - 91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Mead, J. Lynch, C. Greig, A. Young, S. Lewis, and M. Sharpe Evaluation of Fatigue Scales in Stroke Patients Stroke, July 1, 2007; 38(7): 2090 - 2095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Jinks, K. Jordan, and P. Croft Osteoarthritis as a public health problem: the impact of developing knee pain on physical function in adults living in the community: (KNEST 3) Rheumatology, May 1, 2007; 46(5): 877 - 881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Allender, N. Maconochie, T. Keegan, C. Brooks, T. Fletcher, M. J. Nieuwenhuijsen, P. Doyle, L. M. Carpenter, and K. M. Venables Symptoms, ill-health and quality of life in a support group of Porton Down veterans Occup. Med., August 1, 2006; 56(5): 329 - 337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. G. Parker, D. Bechinger-English, C. Jagger, N. Spiers, and J. Lindesay Factors affecting completion of the SF-36 in older people Age Ageing, July 1, 2006; 35(4): 376 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Espallargues, C. J. Czoski-Murray, N. J. Bansback, J. Carlton, G. M. Lewis, L. A. Hughes, C. S. Brand, and J. E. Brazier The Impact of Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Health Status Utility Values Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2005; 46(11): 4016 - 4023. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. F Munro, J. P Nicholl, J. E Brazier, R. Davey, and T. Cochrane Cost effectiveness of a community based exercise programme in over 65 year olds: cluster randomised trial J Epidemiol Community Health, December 1, 2004; 58(12): 1004 - 1010. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L Helbostad, O. Sletvold, and R. Moe-Nilssen Home training with and without additional group training in physically frail old people living at home: effect on health-related quality of life and ambulation Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 2004; 18(5): 498 - 508. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Round, T. Crabb, K. Buckingham, R. Mejzner, V. Pearce, R. Ayres, C. Weeks, and W. Hamilton Six month outcomes after emergency admission of elderly patients to a community or a district general hospital Fam. Pract., April 1, 2004; 21(2): 173 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Dawson, L. Linsell, K. Zondervan, P. Rose, T. Randall, A. Carr, and R. Fitzpatrick Epidemiology of hip and knee pain and its impact on overall health status in older adults Rheumatology, April 1, 2004; 43(4): 497 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E A Lacey and S J Walters Continuing inequality: gender and social class influences on self perceived health after a heart attack J Epidemiol Community Health, August 1, 2003; 57(8): 622 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C Jinks, M Lewis, and P Croft Health status after hip or knee arthroplasty Ann Rheum Dis, August 1, 2003; 62(8): 700 - 701. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J M Henderson, Y Lu, S Wang, H Cartwright, and G M Halliday Olfactory deficits and sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease: a case-control survey J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, July 1, 2003; 74(7): 956 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Croft, M. Lewis, C. Wynn Jones, D. Coggon, and C. Cooper Health status in patients awaiting hip replacement for osteoarthritis Rheumatology, September 1, 2002; 41(9): 1001 - 1007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. A. Sarkisian, R. D. Hays, S. Berry, and C. M. Mangione Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-38) Survey Gerontologist, August 1, 2002; 42(4): 534 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|