US general population norms for telephone administration of the SF-36v2

Objective: US general population norms for mail administration of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Version 2 (SF-36v2) were established in 1998. This article reports SF-36v2 telephone-administered norms collected in 2005-2006 for adults aged 35-89 years. Study Design and Setting: The SF-36v2 was administered to 3,844 adults in the National Health Measurement Study (NHMS), a random-digit dial telephone survey. Scale scores and physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores were computed. Results: When compared with 1998 norms (mean = 50.00, standard deviation [SD] = 10.00), SF-36v2 scores for the 2005-2006 general population tended to be higher: physical functioning (mean = 50.68, SD = 14.48); role limitations due to physical health problems (mean = 49.47, SD = 14.71); bodily pain (mean = 50.66, SD = 16.28); general health perceptions (mean = 50.10, SD = 16.87); vitality (mean = 53.71, SD = 15.35); social functioning (mean = 51.37, SD = 13.93); role limitations due to emotional problems (mean = 51.44, SD = 13.93); mental health (mean = 54.27, SD = 13.28); PCS (mean = 49.22, SD = 15.13); MCS (mean = 53.78, SD = 13.14). PCS and MCS factor scoring coefficients were similar to those previously reported for the 1998 norms. SF-36v2 norms for telephone administration were created. Conclusion: The higher scores for NHMS data are likely due to the effect of telephone administration. The 2005-2006 norms can be used as a reference to interpret scale and component summary scores for telephone-administered surveys with the SF-36v2. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.