Exploring the SF-36, V2: Measuring the Quality of Life of AgrAbility Program Participants

1
Exploring the SF-36, V2 Measuring the Quality
of Life of AgrAbility Program Participants

• Ronald C. Jester
• Robert A. Wilson
• University of Delaware
• National AgrAbility Training Workshop
• October 6, 2009

2
This evaluation focuses on Quality of Life
enhancements associated with the AgrAbility
Program

• Quality of Life is measured with the SF-36,
  Version 2.
• The SF-36 is the most widely-used quality of life
  survey in health research.
• Validity and reliability of the SF-36 has been
  established through thousands of studies.
• The SF-36 scoring program generates quality of
  life measures for individuals and groups.
• The program also produces estimates of missing
  data, and scale reliability measures.

3
SF-36 ScoringInputs and Outputs

• The responses to the SF-36 questionnaire are
  entered into the SF-36 scoring program.
• The scoring program produces a comprehensive
  quality of life profile.

4
Statistical Analysis

• The output from the SF-36 scoring program is
  imported into SPSS (Statistical Program for the
  Social Sciences).
• Examples that follow are SPSS frequencies.
• Follow-up data at one year are compared with
  these pre-test measures.
• T-tests ( paired samples) are performed for the
  SF-36 indicator (means) and the other summary
  indicators.

5
The SF-36 Summary Measures

• The SF-36 quality of life indicators include 8
  sub-scales and 2 summary quality of life indices
  one for physical health and one for mental
  health.
• Health outcomes are gauged by comparing the
  averages of these scales prior to receiving
  service with the averages at one year into the
  AgrAbility Program.

6
(No Transcript)
7
The SF-36 is calculated for 8 sub-scales
(0-100)

1. Physical limitations
2. Limitations in social activities
3. Limitations in work and home roles
4. Bodily pain
5. Psychological distress and wellbeing
6. Limitations because of emotional problems
7. Energy and fatigue
8. General health perceptions

8
2 SF-36 quality of life summary scales

• Physical Health (PH)
• Mental Health (MH)
• All scales are calibrated according to a U.S.
  general population survey norm of 50.

9

• The following illustration shows a comparison of
  the SF-36 summary measures prior to the
  administration of a program with same measures
  after the program is administered.
• s

10

11
A minimum of 2 measurementsare necessary to
gauge program outcome

• Time 1
• Measurement at Program Intake
• Time 2
• Measurement at 1-Year Follow-up

12
SF-36 Program Computer Output

• Following is SF-36 output for a sample of 41
  AgrAbility clients at program intake.

13
Physical Functioning
14
Bodily Pain
15
General Health
16
Vitality
17
Social Functioning
18
Role-Emotional
19
Mental Health
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
Plans

• Complete baseline SF-36 survey for the entire
  active Delaware and Maryland caseload.
• Complete follow-up survey by December, 2009.
• Complete analysis of the follow-up survey by
  March,2010.