Measuring health-related quality of life in Singapore: normal values for the English and Chinese SF-36 Health Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine norms for assessing Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in Singapore using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36).


METHODS
Mean SF-36 scores were calculated for 24 population subgroups (categorised by age, gender, ethnicity and questionnaire language) and for subjects with self-reported co-morbid conditions using data from a community-based survey in Singapore.


RESULTS
The English and Chinese SF-36 was completed by 4122 and 1381 subjects, respectively, 58% (n = 3188) of whom had self-reported co-morbid conditions. SF-36 scores varied in subgroups differing in age, gender and ethnicity. In general, subjects with self-reported co-morbid conditions had lower SF-36 scores than those without these conditions, the magnitude of which exceeded 20 points in several instances. A method for calculation of SF-36 scores adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity and questionnaire language is described.


CONCLUSIONS
We present norms for English and Chinese SF-36 versions in Singapore and describe potential uses for these data in assessing HRQOL in Singapore.
Thumboo
J
J
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Tan Tock Seng Hospital. mdctj@nus.edu.sg
Chan
S P
SP
Machin
D
D
Soh
C H
CH
Feng
P H
PH
Boey
M L
ML
Leong
K H
KH
Thio
S T
ST
Fong
K Y
KY
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating