The reliability and validity of the SF-36 health survey questionnaire for use with individuals with traumatic brain injury

• Published in: Brain injury 2001-08, Vol.15 (8), p.715-723
• Main Authors: FINDLER, Marianne, CANTOR, Joshua, HADDAD, Lisa, GORDON, Wayne, ASHMAN, Teresa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Injuries - diagnosis; Brain Injuries - psychology; Female; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699050010013941

In order to examine the reliability and validity of the SF-36 for use with individuals with TBI, the SF-36 and three measures of health-related problems in persons with TBI (BDI-II, TIRR Symptom Checklist, Health Problems List) were administered to 271 individuals without a disability, 98 individuals with mild TBI, and 228 individuals with moderate-severe TBI. Internal consistency (reliability) was demonstrated for all SF-36 scales. Significant correlations were found between the SF-36 scales and the other measures, with stronger correlations emerging in the TBI groups. The TBI groups obtained significantly lower SF-36 scores than the comparison group, and the mild TBI group scored lower than the moderate-severe group. For the most part, the differences between the TBI groups disappeared when BDI-II scores were controlled for. These findings suggest that the SF-36 is a reliable and valid measure for use with persons with TBI.