The SF-12 in the Australian population: cross-validation of item selection.
OBJECTIVE
To cross-validate the selection of the questionnaire items for the SF-12 in an Australian sample.


METHODS
The sample comprised respondents with complete data on the SF-36 summary measures and the 12 items that comprise the SF-12 (n = 17,671) from the 1995 Australian National Health Survey. Two sets of mental and physical summary scales were analysed, based on either scoring from Australian normative data or the standard United States normative data scoring. Forward stepwise linear regression analyses of weighted data provided the proportion of variance in the summary scales explained by the SF-12 items.


RESULTS
The SF-12 items predicted at least 90% of the variance in both the physical and mental summary scales of the SF-36, whether they were scored with Australian or United States normative data.


CONCLUSIONS
The SF-12 is an appropriate substitute for the SF-36 when the summary scales are of interest but a briefer instrument is required.
Sanderson
Kristy
K
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst. kristys@crufad.unsw.edu.au
Andrews
Gavin
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires