Summary
AboutA 36-item short-form (SF-36) was constructed by RAND to survey health status in the Medical Outcomes Study. The SF-36 is a widely used, generic, patient-reported measure of health status and quality of life. Developed as part of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) by the RAND Corporation, it is designed for use in clinical practice, research, health policy evaluations, and general population surveys. The SF-36 was designed for use in clinical practice and research, health policy evaluations, and general population surveys. The SF-36 includes one multi-item scale that assesses eight health concepts: Limitations in physical activities because of health problemsLimitations in social activities because of physical or emotional problemsLimitations in usual role activities because of physical health problemsBodily painGeneral mental health (psychological distress and well-being)Limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problemsVitality (energy and fatigue)General health perceptions The survey was constructed for self-administration by persons 14 years of age and older, and for administration by a trained interviewer in person or by telephone. Scoring and InterpretationThe RAND Corporation provides the official survey instrument, scoring instructions, and further documentation on its website, ensuring standardized application and interpretation. Scoring the SF-36 involves a multi-step process. First, the response value for each question is recoded according to the official scoring key. Next, the recoded values for all items within the same health domain are summed to create a raw score. Finally, this raw score is transformed into a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst possible health state and 100 represents the best possible health state for that domain. A higher score indicates a more favorable health status. For details on questions, choices and scoring, go to 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) | RAND. Sources and LiteratureThe SF-36 was developed and validated through the Medical Outcomes Study. Its conceptual framework and development are detailed in the following key publication:Ware, J. E., & Sherbourne, C. D. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical care, 473-483.