PURPOSE: The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) is a widely used measure of health-related quality of life and normative reference values have been published for the general population of several countries. Since injured workers often experience pain, disability and other health challenges, we evaluated SF-36 reference values for Canadian workers' compensation claimants undergoing rehabilitation. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional design. Data were gathered as part of a study aimed at developing a tool for selecting rehabilitation programs. Data were available on a wide variety of measures, including the SF-36. We calculated age- and sex-adjusted reference values, and stratified analyses based on type of rehabilitation, employment status and diagnostic group. RESULTS: Data were available on 5,622 claimants undergoing rehabilitation. Claimants reported significant limitations on all SF-36 scales, but were especially limited on the Role Emotional and Bodily Pain scales (~3 standard deviations below typical Canadian norms). Unemployed, middle-aged claimants undergoing chronic pain programs reported the lowest health status, but SF-36 scores varied minimally across diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Claimant scores on the SF-36 were below population norms across all health scales and differed depending on age, employment status and type of rehabilitation. These data will be useful for assessing the health status of injured workers and evaluating the effect of rehabilitation interventions.
PURPOSE: The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) is a widely used measure of health-related quality of life and normative reference values have been published for the general population of several countries. Since injured workers often experience pain, disability and other health challenges, we evaluated SF-36 reference values for Canadian workers' compensation claimants undergoing rehabilitation. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional design. Data were gathered as part of a study aimed at developing a tool for selecting rehabilitation programs. Data were available on a wide variety of measures, including the SF-36. We calculated age- and sex-adjusted reference values, and stratified analyses based on type of rehabilitation, employment status and diagnostic group. RESULTS: Data were available on 5,622 claimants undergoing rehabilitation. Claimants reported significant limitations on all SF-36 scales, but were especially limited on the Role Emotional and Bodily Pain scales (~3 standard deviations below typical Canadian norms). Unemployed, middle-aged claimants undergoing chronic pain programs reported the lowest health status, but SF-36 scores varied minimally across diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Claimant scores on the SF-36 were below population norms across all health scales and differed depending on age, employment status and type of rehabilitation. These data will be useful for assessing the health status of injured workers and evaluating the effect of rehabilitation interventions.
Authors: T Morken; T Riise; B Moen; O Bergum; S H Vigeland Hauge; S Holien; A Langedrag; H-O Olson; S Pedersen; I L Liahjell Saue; G Midttun Seljebø; V Thoppil Journal: Occup Med (Lond) Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 1.611
Authors: Leanne M Aitken; Tamzyn M Davey; Jane Ambrose; Luke B Connelly; Cheryl Swanson; Nicholas Bellamy Journal: Injury Date: 2006-09-25 Impact factor: 2.586
Authors: W M Hopman; T Towheed; T Anastassiades; A Tenenhouse; S Poliquin; C Berger; L Joseph; J P Brown; T M Murray; J D Adachi; D A Hanley; E Papadimitropoulos Journal: CMAJ Date: 2000-08-08 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Line Preede; Martin Saebu; Paul B Perrin; Astrid Nyquist; Haakon Dalen; Erik Bautz-Holter; Cecilie Røe Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2015-08-28 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Fabian Holzgreve; Laura Maltry; Jasmin Lampe; Helmut Schmidt; Andreas Bader; Julia Rey; David A Groneberg; Anke van Mark; Daniela Ohlendorf Journal: J Occup Med Toxicol Date: 2018-12-17 Impact factor: 2.646
Authors: Douglas P Gross; Geoffrey S Rachor; Brandon K Krebs; Shelby S Yamamoto; Bruce D Dick; Cary A Brown; Gordon J G Asmundson; Sebastian Straube; Charl Els; Tanya D Jackson; Suzette Brémault-Phillips; Don Voaklander; Jarett Stastny; Theodore Berry Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2022-07-28 Impact factor: 2.306
Authors: Katelyn Brehon; Riikka Niemeläinen; Mark Hall; Geoff P Bostick; Cary A Brown; Marguerite Wieler; Douglas P Gross Journal: JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol Date: 2022-09-14