Use of the SF‐12 Instrument for Measuring the Health of Homeless Persons

Larson, Celia O.

doi:10.1111/1475-6773.00046

Cited by 145 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Outcome measures for mental health were obtained using two separate instruments: 1) the 12-item Short Form (SF-12) Health Survey, a validated measure of health status for homeless populations (Larson, 2002;Ware, Kosinski, & Keller, 1995); and 2) the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) (McGahan, Griffith, Parente, & McLellan, 1986;McLellan et al, 1992), a validated indicator for mental health, alcohol and drug problems that has been used in numerous studies (Burt, Aron, & Lee, 2001;Drake, McHugo, & Biesanz, 1995;Joyner, Wright, & Devine, 1996;Zanis, McLellan, Cnaan, & Randall, 1994). SF-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated according to the publishers' specifications (Ware et al, 1995).…”

Section: Survey Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with Poor Mental Health Status Among Homeless Women With and Without Dependent Children

Chambers

Chiu

Scott

et al. 2013

Community Ment Health J

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The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mental health problems among a representative sample of homeless women with and without dependent children and determine if the effects of risk factors for mental health are modified by the presence of dependent children. Homeless women (n=522) were recruited in 2004-2005 from shelters and meal programs in Toronto, Canada. Linear and logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with mental health status. Poor mental health was associated with low perceived access to social support, physical/sexual assault in the past 12 months, presence of a chronic health condition, and presence of a drug use problem in the past month. Efforts to improve mental health in this population will need to address the associated problems of victimization, substance abuse, and lack of social supports.

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Section: Survey Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with Poor Mental Health Status Among Homeless Women With and Without Dependent Children

Chambers

Chiu

Scott

et al. 2013

Community Ment Health J

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“…25 Perceived health status was measured using the validated 12-item Short Form (SF-12) Health Survey. 26,27 SF-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated according to the publishers' specifications and were standardized to the general U.S. population (mean=50, standard deviation=10), with higher scores representing better overall health status. 27 Chronic health conditions were based items from the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients and included diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke, liver problems including hepatitis, arthritis or joint problems, cancer, problems walking, lost limb or other handicap, and HIV infection or AIDS.…”

Section: Survey Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Medical or Surgical and Psychiatric Hospitalizations Among a Population-Based Cohort of Homeless Adults

et al. 2013

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Objectives-To identify factors associated with inpatient hospitalizations among a populationbased cohort of homeless adults in Toronto, Canada. Human Participant ProtectionThis study was approved by the Research Ethics Board at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada. All participants provided written informed consent. NIH Public Access Author ManuscriptAm J Public Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2014 December 01. NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptMethods-Participants were linked to administrative databases to capture hospital admissions during the study period (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of medical/surgical and psychiatric hospitalizations.Results-Among 1,165 homeless adults, 20% had a medical/surgical hospitalization and 12% had a psychiatric hospitalization during the study period. These individuals contributed a total of 921 hospitalizations, of which 548 were medical/surgical and 373 were psychiatric. Independent predictors of medical/surgical hospitalization included birth in Canada, having a primary care provider, higher perceived external health locus of control, and lower health status. Independent predictors of psychiatric hospitalization included being a current smoker, having a recent mental health problem, and having a lower perceived internal health locus of control. Being accompanied by a partner or dependent children was protective for hospitalization.Conclusions-Health care need was a strong predictor of medical/surgical and psychiatric hospitalizations. Some hospitalizations among homeless adults are potentially avoidable, while others represent an unavoidable use of health services. KeywordsHospitalization; Homeless persons; Health care utilization Homeless adults are frequent users of inpatient hospital services. In a nationally representative sample of homeless persons in the United States, almost one in four respondents reported being hospitalized in the past year, a rate four times higher than U.S. norms. 1 The frequent use of inpatient hospital services partially reflects the high prevalence of acute and chronic disease, injuries and assaults, and substance use and mental illness among this population. [1][2][3] However, the high rates of hospitalization have also been attributed to a lack of access to primary and preventative care, particularly in the United States where 50% of homeless people have no health insurance. 1,[4][5][6][7] In a nationally representative sample of persons who used homeless services in the United States, Kushel et al. show that lack of health insurance and African American race/ethnicity, as compared to non-Latino white race/ethnicity, were the only factors significantly associated with a lower odds of self-reported hospitalization 1 In a subsequent study, Kushel et al. show that being uninsured significantly decreased the likelihood of self-reporting a non-maternal hospitalization in the past year, while food instability and housing instabilit...

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“…They were classified as having alcohol problems if their alcohol score was ≥ 0.17 and were classified as having drug problems if their drug score was ≥ 0.10. 24 We used the SF-12 health survey, a health status instrument that has been validated in homeless populations, 25 to generate scores for the physical and mental component subscales. 26 These scores range continuously from 0 to 100 (best), standardized to a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 in the general population in the United States.…”

Section: Survey Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of traumatic brain injury on the health of homeless people

Hwang¹,

Colantonio²,

Chiu³

et al. 2008

Canadian Medical Association Journal

155

159

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CMAJ ResearchBackground: We sought to determine the lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury and its association with current health conditions in a representative sample of homeless people in Toronto, Ontario. Methods:We surveyed 601 men and 303 women at homeless shelters and meal programs in 2004-2005 (response rate 76%). We defined traumatic brain injury as any self-reported head injury that left the person dazed, confused, disoriented or unconscious. Injuries resulting in unconsciousness lasting 30 minutes or longer were defined as moderate or severe. We assessed mental health, alcohol and drug problems in the past 30 days using the Addiction Severity Index. Physical and mental health status was assessed using the SF-12 health survey. We examined associations between traumatic brain injury and health conditions. Results:The lifetime prevalence among homeless participants was 53% for any traumatic brain injury and 12% for moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. For 70% of respondents, their first traumatic brain injury occurred before the onset of homelessness. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and lifetime duration of homelessness, a history of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury was associated with significantly increased likelihood of seizures (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8 to 5.6), mental health problems (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.1), drug problems (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5), poorer physical health status (-8.3 points, 95% CI -11.1 to -5.5) and poorer mental health status (-6.0 points, 95% CI -8.3 to -3.7).Interpretation: Prior traumatic brain injury is very common among homeless people and is associated with poorer health. Abstract

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Use of the SF‐12 Instrument for Measuring the Health of Homeless Persons

Cited by 145 publications

References 17 publications

Factors Associated with Poor Mental Health Status Among Homeless Women With and Without Dependent Children

Factors Associated with Poor Mental Health Status Among Homeless Women With and Without Dependent Children

Predictors of Medical or Surgical and Psychiatric Hospitalizations Among a Population-Based Cohort of Homeless Adults

The effect of traumatic brain injury on the health of homeless people

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