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Validation of the Chinese SF-36 for quality of life assessment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore; Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. Tel: +65 772 4979; Fax: +65 779 4112.; mdctj{at}nus.edu.sg

P-H Feng

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

M-L Boey

Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore

C-H Soh

Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

S-t Thio

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

K-Y Fong

Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

We studied the reliability and validity of the Chinese Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) in a cross sectional study of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sixty-nine consecutive subjects completed a questionnaire containing the Chinese SF-36 twice within 14 d. Disease activity and damage were assessed using the British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) and SLICC/ACR Damage Index (DI) scales, respectively. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, reliability using Spearman's correlation and repeatability coefficients, and relationships between SF-36, BILAG and DI scores using Spearman's correlation.

The Chinese SF-36 showed high internal consistency ( =0.72– 0.91) and good reliability, with correlations exceeding 0.70 for 7 scales and mean scale score differences of < 2 points for 6 scales. SF-36 scores correlated weakly with BILAG scores (–0.27 to –0.41) and DI scores (–0.24 to –0.35), and subjects' mean SF-36 scores were 6 – 24 points lower than the general population, supporting construct validity of the SP-36.

These data suggest that the Chinese SF-36 is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in patients with SLE.

Key Words: quality of life • systemic lupus erythematosus • language • Asia • Singapore

Lupus, Vol. 9, No. 9, 708-712 (2000)
DOI: 10.1191/096120300673421268


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