Measuring health-related quality of life for persons with mobility impairments: an enabled version of the short-form 36 (SF-36E).
OBJECTIVE
Examine psychometric properties of the SF-36 and SF-36E for mobility-impaired individuals and assess whether the SF-36E yields higher health-related quality-of-life scores.


METHODS
We altered the SF-36 Physical Function scale by substituting the word "go" for "walk" and "climb" and changed the stem to reflect function using assistive devices. We compared responses between versions for 201 individuals with disabilities (n = 95 wheelchair users, n = 48 other device users, 58 = no device users).


RESULTS
Both surveys yielded reliable scores, but floor and ceiling effects occurred with both versions. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrate good fit for the SF-36 and SF36E, but were compromised by low sample size. Respondents demonstrated significantly better Role Physical, Bodily Pain, and Vitality on the SF-36E, but worse General Health.


CONCLUSIONS
The World Health Organization framework, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) suggests that it is important to know both what one can do without assistance (capacity) and what one can do with assistance (performance). Results suggest that the SF-36E successfully measures performance among mobility-impaired individuals, including wheelchair users. However, further validation studies of the SF-36 and SF-36E are warranted with samples of individuals with disabilities.
Froehlich-Grobe
Katherine
K
Gerontology Center, The University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside, Dole 3090, Lawrence, KS 66045-7555, USA. kgrobe@ku.edu
Andresen
Elena M
EM
Caburnay
Charlene
C
White
Glen W
GW
D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires