title: Short Form health surveys and related variants in spinal cord injury research: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Short Form' health surveys - such as the SF-36 and SF-12 - are widely used in medical research. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is no exception, despite oft-cited concerns regarding measurement properties for populations with physical impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a comprehensive overview of the use of Short Form health surveys and their variants within the SCI literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers published between database inception and September 2012 were identified from 11 electronic databases; a supplementary reference list search was also conducted. Data extraction focused on details regarding the range of different Short Form surveys and variants used in SCI research, the respective frequency of use, the nature of reporting (complete versus partial reporting) and the method of survey administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-four papers were identified. Thirty-six-item Short Form health surveys were frequently administered as complete instruments (n = 82); in 69 of these 82 studies (84%), it was not clearly stated which 36-item version had been used (e.g. SF-36v1, SF-36v2, RAND-36). Data for individual items and domains were often reported (29% of identified studies), indicating significant partial use of standardized measures. Modified variants of standardized health surveys were administered in 12 studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although standardized Short Form health surveys are common within SCI research, attempts to add, delete, or modify items have resulted in a number of variants, often with minimal supportive psychometric evidence. Using established, generic outcome measures is appealing for a number of reasons. However, validity is paramount and requires further explicit consideration within the SCI research community.
authors.forename: David G T
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Whitehurst
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Stirling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bryan
mesh_terms: D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057566:Self Report; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Health services research; Health surveys; Quality of life; Spinal cord injuries