title: Use of the SF-8 to assess health-related quality of life for a chronically ill, low-income population participating in the Central Louisiana Medication Access Program (CMAP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The utility of the SF-8 for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQL) is demonstrated. Race and gender differences in physical component (PCS) and mental component (MCS) summary scores among participants in the CENLA Medication Access Program (CMAP), along with comparisons to the United States population are made.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-adjusted multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare 1687 CMAP participants to the US population. Internal race and gender comparisons, adjusting for age and the number of self reported diagnoses, were also obtained. The paired t-test was used to assess 6-month change in PCS and MCS scores for a subset of 342 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMAP participants have PCS and MCS scores that are significantly 10-12 points lower than the US population, indicating lower self-reported HRQL. Females have significantly higher PCS and significantly lower MCS than males. African-Americans have significantly higher MCS than Caucasians. Significant increases in both PCS and MCS were observed for the subset of participants after 6 months of intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expected lower baseline PCS and MCS measures and the expected associations with age and number of diagnoses indicate that the SF-8 survey is an effective tool for measuring the HRQL of participants in this program. Preliminary results indicate significant increases in both PCS and MCS 6 months after intervention.
authors: Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. lefante@tulane.edu
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Lefante
authors: Gary N
authors: GN
authors: Harmon
authors: Keith M
authors: KM
authors: Ashby
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Barnard
authors: Larry S
authors: LS
authors: Webber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile