Using the SF‐36 with older adults: a cross‐sectional community‐based survey

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 337 - 343
• Main Authors: Walters, Stephen J., Munro, James F., Brazier, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.07.2001; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging (Biology); Community Health Services; community study; Cross-Sectional Studies; Elderly people; England; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Health; Health aspects; Health status; Health Surveys; health‐related quality of life; Humans; Mail surveys; Male; Older people; Polls & surveys; postal survey; Quality of Life; SF‐36; Sheffield; Surveys and Questionnaires; Validity; United States
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/30.4.337

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 α 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.