title: The equivalence of SF-36 summary health scores estimated using standard and country-specific algorithms in 10 countries: results from the IQOLA Project. International Quality of Life Assessment.
abstract: Data from general population surveys (n = 1771 to 9151) in nine European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) were analyzed to test the algorithms used to score physical and mental component summary measures (PCS-36/MCS-36) based on the SF-36 Health Survey. Scoring coefficients for principal components were estimated independently in each country using identical methods of factor extraction and orthogonal rotation. PCS-36 and MCS-36 scores were also estimated using standard (U.S.-derived) scoring algorithms, and results were compared. Product-moment correlations between scores estimated from standard and country-specific scoring coefficients were very high (0.98 to 1.00) for both physical and mental health components in all countries. As hypothesized for orthogonal components, correlations between physical and mental components within each country were very low (0.00 to 0.12) for both estimation methods. Mean scores for PCS-36 differed by as much as 3.0 points across countries using standard scoring, and mean scores for MCS-36 differed across countries by as much as 6.4 points. In view of the high degree of equivalence observed within each country, using standard and country-specific algorithms, we recommend use of standard scoring algorithms for purposes of multinational studies involving these 10 countries.
authors.affiliation: Health Assessment Lab at the Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gandek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosinski
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Aaronson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apolone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullinger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaasa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leplège
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thunedborg
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology