Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey: normative data from the general Norwegian population

Anchoring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures in population nor ms makes clinical interpretations more meaningful and is in accordance with practice in other fields of medicine. In this paper norms for the Short Fo rm 36 (SF-36) are presented in a random sample, representative of the gener al Norwegian population. In addition, sociodemographic variables affecting the scale scores are explored and discussed. The response rate was 67%, bei ng lowest among subjects aged 70 years or over. Data-completeness strongly declined with increasing age. Physical health scales were also strongly aff ected by age. In all scales, with the exception of general health perceptio ns, women reported having poorer health than men. Marital status affected t he four mental health scales. Educational status affected all the scales, b ut the effect was smallest in the mental scales. These norms can be employe d for comparison in case-control studies, or to interpret HRQOL changes in prospective studies. Differences in social status should be given special a ttention. Caution should be exercised when assessing subjective health or e mploying the norms among subjects aged 70 years or over.