Performance of the SF-36, SF-12, and RAND-36 Summary Scales in a Multiple Sclerosis Population : Medical Care

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Performance of the SF-36, SF-12, and RAND-36 Summary Scales in a Multiple Sclerosis Population

Nortvedt, Monica W. MSc*; Riise, Trond PhD*; Myhr, Kjell-Morten MD†; Nyland, Harald I. MD†

Author Information

*From the Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. †From the Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Presented in part at the 6th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Research, Barcelona, Spain, November 3–6, 1999.

Supported by grants from the Norwegian Society of Multiple Sclerosis, Odd Fellow, Kjell Almes Legacy, and the Research Council of Norway.

Received November 29, 1999;

initial review completed March 14, 2000; accepted June 8, 2000.

Address correspondence to: M.W. Nortvedt, University of Bergen, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Ulriksdal 8C, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. E-Mail: [email protected]

Medical Care 38(10):p 1022-1028, October 2000.

Abstract

Background. 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients accumulate both physical and mental health problems along with disease progression. Valid and sensitive outcome measures are important to measure disease effects and the effect of treatment.

Objective. 

The objective of this study was to test the performance of the physical and mental summary scales of SF-36, SF-12, and RAND-36.

Methods. 

The scales were evaluated by comparing the scores of a cohort of 194 MS patients with general population data and using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the Incapacity Status Scale–mental as criterion variables for physical functioning and mental health.

Results. 

All 3 physical summary scales were markedly reduced and correlated highly with the EDSS. The SF-36 mental summary score was only slightly reduced among MS patients (0.2 SD) compared with the general population, despite significantly reduced scores on all 4 health scales being most related to mental health and despite a high prevalence of mental health problems. This results from the poor physical functioning (mean scale score, 2.3 SD below the general population) and the orthogonal factor rotation used to derive independent measures of physical and mental health. Similar results were found for the SF-12. The nonorthogonal RAND-36 physical and mental summary scores were both markedly reduced. This is more compatible with the disease progression in MS and the results of the other measures of physical and mental health used in the study.

Conclusions. 

The SF-36 and SF-12 mental health summary scales appear to overestimate mental health in people with MS.

© 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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