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The Swedish SF-36 Health Survey--I. Evaluation of data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability and construct validity across general populations in Sweden

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  • Sullivan, Marianne
  • Karlsson, Jan
  • Ware, John E.

Abstract

We document the applicability of the SF-36 Health Survey, which was translated into Swedish using methods later adopted by the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project procedures. To test its appropriateness for use in Sweden, it was administered through mail-out/mail-back questionnaires in seven general population studies with an average response rate of 68%. The 8930 respondents varied by gender (48.2% men), age (range 15-93 years, mean age 42.7), marital status, education, socio-economic status, and geographical area. Psychometric methods used in the evaluation of the SF-36 in the U.S. were replicated. Over 90 % of respondents had complete items for each of the eight SF-36 scales, although more missing data were observed for subjects 75 years and over. Scale scores could be computed for the vast majority of respondents (95% and over); slightly fewer in the oldest subgroup. Item-internal consistency was consistently high across socio-demographic subgroups and the eight scales. Most reliability estimates exceeded the 0.80 level. The highest reliability was observed for the Bodily Pain Scale where all subgroups met the 0.90 level recommended for individual comparisons; coefficients at or above 0.90 were also observed in most subgroups for the Physical Functioning Scale. Tests of scaling assumptions including hypothesized item groupings, which reflect the construct validity of scales, were consistently favorable across subgroups, although lower rates were noted in the oldest age group. In conclusion, these studies have yielded empirical evidence supporting the feasibility of a non-English language reproduction of the SF-36 Health Survey. The Swedish SF-36 is ready for further evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sullivan, Marianne & Karlsson, Jan & Ware, John E., 1995. "The Swedish SF-36 Health Survey--I. Evaluation of data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability and construct validity across general populations in Sweden," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1349-1358, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:41:y:1995:i:10:p:1349-1358
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    Cited by:

    1. Alex Michalos & Bruno Zumbo & Anita Hubley, 2000. "Health and the Quality of Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 245-286, September.
    2. Ann‐Helene Almborg & Kerstin Ulander & Anders Thulin & Stig Berg, 2010. "Discharged after stroke – important factors for health‐related quality of life," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(15‐16), pages 2196-2206, August.
    3. Maggie Grabow & Thomas Bryan & Mary M. Checovich & Alexander K. Converse & Cathy Middlecamp & Margaret Mooney & Elisa R. Torres & Samuel G. Younkin & Bruce Barrett, 2018. "Mindfulness and Climate Change Action: A Feasibility Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Ying Liang, 2015. "Correlations Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Interpersonal Trust: Comparisons Between Two Generations of Chinese Rural-to-Urban Migrants," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 677-700, September.
    5. Evalotte Mörelius & Per A. Gustafsson & Kerstin Ekberg & Nina Nelson, 2013. "Neonatal Intensive Care and Child Psychiatry Inpatient Care: Do Different Working Conditions Influence Stress Levels?," Nursing Research and Practice, Hindawi, vol. 2013, pages 1-8, June.
    6. Arun K Sigurdardottir & Kolbrún Sigurlásdóttir & Kjartan Ólafsson & Margrét Hrönn Svavarsdóttir, 2017. "Perceived consequences, changeability and personal control of coronary heart disease are associated with health‐related quality of life," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(21-22), pages 3636-3645, November.
    7. Hongyun Fu & Mark VanLandingham, 2012. "Mental Health Consequences of International Migration for Vietnamese Americans and the Mediating Effects of Physical Health and Social Networks: Results From a Natural Experiment Approach," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(2), pages 393-424, May.
    8. Iben Axén & Lydia Kwak & Jan Hagberg & Irene Jensen, 2017. "Does physical activity buffer insomnia due to back and neck pain?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-9, September.
    9. Lisa M Lix & Xiuyun Wu & Wilma Hopman & Nancy Mayo & Tolulope T Sajobi & Juxin Liu & Jerilynn C Prior & Alexandra Papaioannou & Robert G Josse & Tanveer E Towheed & K Shawn Davison & Richard Sawatzky, 2016. "Differential Item Functioning in the SF-36 Physical Functioning and Mental Health Sub-Scales: A Population-Based Investigation in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, March.
    10. Theo Niyonsenga & Suzanne J Carroll & Neil T Coffee & Anne W Taylor & Mark Daniel, 2020. "Are changes in depressive symptoms, general health and residential area socio-economic status associated with trajectories of waist circumference and body mass index?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Karl A Forsberg & Tommy Björkman & Per O Sandman & Mikael Sandlund, 2010. "Influence of a lifestyle intervention among persons with a psychiatric disability: a cluster randomised controlled trail on symptoms, quality of life and sense of coherence," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(11‐12), pages 1519-1528, June.

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