title: A review of the measurement properties of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) to determine its suitability for use in an alcohol-dependent population.
abstract: A psychometric evaluation of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) was undertaken in contemporary studies to assess its suitability for use in an alcohol-dependent population. Three criteria were used to try and determine this: factor analysis, internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability. Factor analysis revealed that it is mainly consistent with a bidimensional model, internal consistency reliability showed that it consistently provided scores above the recommended threshold and test-retest reliability of the SF-36 highlights that it too provided higher than suggested scores. A conclusion was reached recommending the SF-36 as a reliable screening tool in an alcohol-dependent population, but this is given in caution as no studies were found analysing the instrument in this population.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery PhD Student, University of the West of Scotland, Ayr, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*