title: SF-36 general health status survey to determine patient satisfaction at short-term follow-up after total hip and knee arthroplasty.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the SF-36 general health status survey was sensitive enough to document early improvements in patient health after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Early follow-up data were collected an average of 3 months after surgery. Results were striking, showing statistically significant improvements in all pain and function subcategories of the SF-36 for both THA and TKA. Further, the survey instrument successfully differentiated the course of healing after THA and TKA; at this early follow-up period, the patients who had had THA expressed greater improvement in pain, function, and overall health than did patients who had had TKA. These data suggest that the SF-36 is a simple, easy-to-administer, and effective instrument for monitoring improvements in patient health after THA and TKA.
authors.affiliation: Miller Orthopaedic Clinic, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kiebzak
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vain
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mokris
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mauerhan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000523:psychology*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome