Psychometric properties of a Chinese translation of the SF-36Health SurveyQuestionnaire in the Well Elderly Study

Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese translatio n of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in the Well Elderly Study -a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of prev entive occupational therapy services specifically tailored for multiethnic, independent-living, older adults. Methods: Translation and back-translatio n procedures were used to obtain appropriate meanings for the SF-36 survey questions and to ensure face, functional, and conceptual equivalence. Resul ts: Statistical analyses demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity , with the results generally similar to those reported for older Angle adul ts. Discussion: As the percentage of older adults of diverse ethnicity incr eases, the need for health care research and service strategies that can ef fectively include multiple ethnicities becomes paramount. The results of th is study suggest that a Chinese-translated SF-36 can be used to assess mult iple dimensions of health in a Mandarin-speaking population of older adults .