title: A single, global patient-centered measure from the SF-36 instrument to assess surgical outcomes and quality of life: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many quality of life (QoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures have been developed to assess the effects of disease processes and treatments. Although these instruments are valuable, the process is hampered because of their number and lack of interchangeability.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified a cohort of patients across a variety of operations within 3-12 months postoperatively. Patients completed the SF-36, measuring eight domains of QoL (physical functioning, role-physical, role-emotional, bodily pain, vitality, mental health, social functioning, and general health), plus a health transition item: Compared to one year ago, how would you rate your health in general now?. (1) Much better now than one year ago. (2) Somewhat better now than one year ago. (3) About the same as one year ago. (4) Somewhat worse than one year ago. (5) Much worse than one year ago. Additional data included improvement of preoperative symptoms, the occurrence of any postoperative symptoms, and the occurrence of any postoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 217 patients, 28 % were much better, 28 % somewhat better, 27 % unchanged, 13 % somewhat worse, and 3 % much worse. The health transition results were associated with all SF-36 domains, preoperative symptom change (p = 0.03) and persistent or new postoperative symptoms (p = 0.001), but not postoperative complications. Patients with persistent or new symptoms postoperatively had worse scores in the role-emotional (p = 0.01), bodily pain (p = 0.05), social functioning (p = 0.02), and mental health (p = 0.009) domains of the SF-36.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This single, global assessment of health transition may be a promising practical alternative to assess postoperative patient-centered outcomes. Improved patients had better QoL scores, preoperative symptoms elimination, and no operation-related symptoms, but the occurrence of complications did not affect improvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, University of South Florida, One Tampa General Circle, Tampa General Hospital, F145, Tampa, FL 33601, USA. vvelanov@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Velanovich
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Younga
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhandarkar
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubinfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult