title: Validation of the SF-36 in patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometriosis presents with significant pain as the most common symptom. Generic health measures can allow comparisons across diseases or populations. However, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) has not been validated for this disease. The goal of this study was to validate the SF-36 (version 2) for endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from two clinical trials (N = 252 and 198) of treatment for endometriosis, a full complement of psychometric analyses was performed. Additional instruments included a pain visual analog scale (VAS); a physician-completed questionnaire based on patient interview (modified Biberoglu and Behrman--B&B); clinical global impression of change (CGI-C); and patient satisfaction with treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bodily pain (BP) and the Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) were correlated with the pain VAS at baseline and over time and the B&B at baseline and end of study. In addition, those who had the greatest change in BP and PCS also reported the greatest change on CGI-C and patient satisfaction with treatment. Other subscales showed smaller, but significant, correlations with change in the pain VAS, CGI-C, and patient satisfaction with treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SF-36--particularly BP and the PCS--appears to be a valid and responsive measure for endometriosis and its treatment.
authors.affiliation: RTI Health Solutions, Manchester, UK, dstull@rti.org.
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Stull
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wasiak
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kreif
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raluy
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colligs
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerlinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale