Using the SF-36 for characterizing outcome after multiple trauma involving head injury.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for examining outcomes after multiple trauma and to investigate whether the addition of items selected to measure cognitive function could improve the sensitivity of the SF-36 for identifying differences in outcomes for patients with and without head injury.


METHODS
One thousand two hundred thirty patients discharged from 12 trauma centers were interviewed 1 year after injury. The interview included the SF-36 supplemented with four items chosen to assess cognitive function.


RESULTS
The resulting cognitive function scale is internally consistent and measures a component of health that is independent of the dimensions incorporated in the SF-36. It correlates well with established measures of brain injury severity and discriminates among patients with and without brain injury.


CONCLUSIONS
This study underscores the need to supplement the SF-36 with a measure of cognitive function when evaluating outcome from multiple trauma involving head injury. Further studies are needed to validate the specific items chosen for measuring cognitive function.
MacKenzie
Ellen J
EJ
Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. emackenz@jhsph.edu
McCarthy
Melissa L
ML
Ditunno
John F
JF
Forrester-Staz
Carol
C
Gruen
Gary S
GS
Marion
Donald W
DW
Schwab
William C
WC
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life