Short Form health surveys and related variants in spinal cord injury research: A systematic review

Abstract

Context: 'Short Form' health surveys -such as the SF-36 and SF-12 -are widely used in medical research. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is no exception, despite oft-cited concerns regarding measurement properties for populations with physical impairment. Objective: To provide a comprehensive overview of the use of Short Form health surveys and their variants within the SCI literature. Methods: Papers published between database inception and September 2012 were identified from 11 electronic databases; a supplementary reference list search was also conducted. Data extraction focused on details regarding the range of different Short Form surveys and variants used in SCI research, the respective frequency of use, the nature of reporting (complete versus partial reporting) and the method of survey administration. Results: One hundred seventy-four papers were identified. Thirty-six-item Short Form health surveys were frequently administered as complete instruments (n = 82); in 69 of these 82 studies (84%), it was not clearly stated which 36-item version had been used (e.g. SF-36v1, SF-36v2, RAND-36). Data for individual items and domains were often reported (29% of identified studies), indicating significant partial use of standardized measures. Modified variants of standardized health surveys were administered in 12 studies. Conclusion: Although standardized Short Form health surveys are common within SCI research, attempts to add, delete, or modify items have resulted in a number of variants, often with minimal supportive psychometric evidence. Using established, generic outcome measures is appealing for a number of reasons. However, validity is paramount and requires further explicit consideration within the SCI research community.

Psychosocial aspects of spinal cord injury pain: a meta-analysis

“…18,26,29,33 A total of 20 standardised, self-report psychosocial measures were used across the 16 independent studies. The 12-or 36-item Short Form Health Survey (N studies = 6), a quality of life measure routinely used in medical research, 49 was most commonly used to assess physical and mental health functioning. Questionnaires were primarily administered in a clinical setting or by a mailout survey (N studies = 8), with the remainder administered as part of a semistructured interview (N studies = 8).…”

Good validity of the international spinal cord injury quality of life basic data set

“…14 The Mental Health Inventory-5 consists of five questions on mood over the last 4 weeks and has shown construct validity and convergent validity in individuals with SCI. 15 Satisfaction with overall QoL, physical health and the ability to perform daily activities was measured with three items from the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life measure.…”

Definitions of Quality of Life: What Has Happened and How to Move On

“…A recent review found no fewer than 174 SCI studies in which the SF-36 or SF-12 was used. 43 Utility measures, the societal valuation of the QOL of persons with SCI, are rarely used in SCI studies. A review identified 22 articles that used 10 different measures or versions of measures.…”