HEALTH-STATUS AND FUNCTIONING AMONG THE HOMELESS MENTALLY-ILL - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MEDICAL OUTCOMES STUDY SF-36 SCALES

Citation
Pa. Wood et al., HEALTH-STATUS AND FUNCTIONING AMONG THE HOMELESS MENTALLY-ILL - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MEDICAL OUTCOMES STUDY SF-36 SCALES, Evaluation and program planning, 20(2), 1997, pp. 151-161
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Social, Sciences, Interdisciplinary
ISSN journal
01497189
Volume
20
Issue
2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
151 - 161
Database
ISI
SICI code
0149-7189(1997)20:2<151:HAFATH>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
While the SF-36 health status instrument has documented reliability an d validity for nonpsychiatric populations, use of the instrument among people who are severely mentally ill requires investigation. This pap er evaluates the performance of six of the eight SF-36 subscales in a large sample of homeless mentally ill individuals, examining: (a) the internal consistency of each subscale, (b) the internal structure of t he SF-36 as a measurement instrument, (c) the average levels of functi oning and well-being reported compared to a general population sample, (d) the sensitivity of the scales to clinical differences, and (e) th e relationship between change on the SF-36 and change on other related measures. Data confirm high levels of internal reliability, a two-fac tor structure similar to that reported for the general population, and the ability of the short-form scales to discriminate between groups v arying in level of clinical disturbance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd .