title: Responsiveness of SF-36 and Lower Extremity Functional Scale for assessing outcomes in traumatic injuries of lower extremities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the responsiveness of one generic questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), and one region-specific outcome measure, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), in patients with traumatic injuries of lower extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective and observational study of patients after traumatic injuries of lower extremities. Assessments were performed at baseline and 3 months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-patients and out-patients in two university hospitals in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 109 subjects were evaluated and 94 (86%) were followed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments of responsiveness with distribution-based approach (effect size, standardized response mean [SRM], minimal detectable change) and anchor-based approach (receiver's operating curve analysis, ROC analysis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  LEFS and physical component score (PCS) of SF-36 were all responsive to global improvement, with fair-to-good accuracy in discriminating between participants with and without improvement. The area under curve gained by ROC analysis for LEFS and SF-36 PCS was similar (0.65 vs. 0.70, p=0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings revealed comparable responsiveness of LEFS and PCS of SF-36 in a sample of subjects with traumatic injuries of lower limbs. Either type of functional measure would be suitable for use in clinical trials where improvement in function was an endpoint of interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shin-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: lianghw@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Huey-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Hsuan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Tian-Shin
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Leg injuries; Outcome measures; Reliability and validity; Responsiveness