title: Tests of data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability, and construct validity of the SF-36 health survey in people who abuse heroin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is considered an important outcome indicator in substances abuse studies. However, psychometric properties of HRQOL measures are largely unknown in people who abuse heroin. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine data quality, scaling properties, reliability, and construct validity of the 36-Item Short Form healthy survey (SF-36) in people who abuse heroin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 469 people who abuse heroin participated in the study. Data quality was determined by data completeness. Scaling properties were evaluated by item frequency distribution, equivalence of item means and standard deviations, item-internal consistency, and item-discriminant validity (calculating scaling success). Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α. Construct validity was examined by investigating convergent validity and divergent validity among the eight scales of the SF-36.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of data quality showed low missing rates (0.0-3.8%) and high completion rates in the scales (91.9-98.7%). The results of scaling assumptions showed good item frequency distribution on each item, roughly equivalent item means and standard deviations within a scale, good item-internal consistency (>0.4) and good scaling success rates (77.5-100%), except on the two scales of bodily pain (BP) and social functioning (SF). Three scales showed ceiling and/or floor effects [i.e., physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical problems (RP), and role limitations due to emotional problems (RE)]. Cronbach's α was acceptable (>0.7), except for the BP and SF scales. Construct validity was partially supported by the results of convergent validity and divergent validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirmed good data quality; satisfactory scaling assumptions and internal consistency (except for the BP and SF scales); and generally acceptable construct validity. However, the PF, RP, and RE scales showed ceiling and/or floor effects. Therefore, the BP, SF, PF, RP, and RE scales should be used with cautions in measuring HRQOL in people who abuse heroin.
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: En-Chi
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Ping
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: chhsieh@tyvh.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design
keywords: druge abuse; health status indicators; heroin; psychometrics; quality of life