MEASURING HEALTH-STATUS WITH THE SF-36 - THE NEED FOR REGIONAL NORMS

Background. Normative data on SF-36 scores in populations from Oxford and Aberdeen have recently been published. It has been suggested that such data provide suitable normative values for the UK population. How ever, other indices of health vary considerably across regions, and te nd to be worse in areas such as South Wales. The objective of this stu dy was to determine whether population SF-36 scores in West Glamorgan differ from scores from other parts of the United Kingdom. Method. The SF-36 health status questionnaire was administered to two random samp les of adults aged 20-89 years, drawn from the West Glamorgan Family H ealth Services Authority register. One sample (n = 919) received posta l questionnaires and those in the other sample (n = 1201) were intervi ewed in their own homes. Normative data from this study were compared with published data from other areas of the United Kingdom. Results: S F-36 population scores were significantly lower in the two West Glamor gan samples; this was not due to differences in age, sex, social class , or response rates. Conclusion: Health status in West Glamorgan, as m easured by the SF-36, is lower than in Oxford or Aberdeen. A national study would be required to provide appropriate normative data for the UK population.