title: Characterizing self-rated health during a period of changing health status.
abstract: Self-rated health (SRH) is among the most frequently assessed health perceptions. The purpose of this study was to assess the tenability of the recently proposed distinctions of SRH, as a spontaneous assessment of overall health, or as an enduring self-concept. Individuals (n = 449) undergoing total joint replacement for hip or knee osteoarthritis in Toronto, Canada were followed over 6 months of recovery. Health questionnaires, completed pre-surgery, and at 3 and 6 months post-surgery, included measures of pain, physical function, sports/recreation, fatigue, anxiety, depression, social participation, passive/active recreation, and community access. Structural equation modeling was used for the analyses. SRH was found to be responsive to current and changing mental well-being throughout the six months of recovery. Current SRH strongly predicted future SRH. In this clinical sample undergoing significant changes in health status, SRH displayed both enduring and spontaneous features; evidence is provided that both operate simultaneously. SRH may prove to be a simple yet critical health measure for identifying individuals who would benefit most from targeted interventions for improving overall health.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Research Institute, Health Care and Outcomes Research, 399 Bathrust Street, MP 10-316, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. perrucci@uhnres.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Anthony V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Perruccio
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Badley
authors.forename: Sheilah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hogg-Johnson
authors.forename: Aileen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D002170:Canada; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function