The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey

Abstract Background This study aims to evaluate data quality, scaling properties, and reliability of the Swedish RAND-36 in a general population sample and to present reference data for the Swedish population. Methods Testing of data quality, scaling assumptions and reliability followed methods reco...

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Main Authors: Emma Ohlsson-Nevo, Ayako Hiyoshi, Paulina Norén, Margareta Möller, Jan Karlsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2021-08-01
Series:Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-021-00331-z
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author Emma Ohlsson-Nevo
Ayako Hiyoshi
Paulina Norén
Margareta Möller
Jan Karlsson
author_facet Emma Ohlsson-Nevo
Ayako Hiyoshi
Paulina Norén
Margareta Möller
Jan Karlsson
author_sort Emma Ohlsson-Nevo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aims to evaluate data quality, scaling properties, and reliability of the Swedish RAND-36 in a general population sample and to present reference data for the Swedish population. Methods Testing of data quality, scaling assumptions and reliability followed methods recommended for the International Quality of Life Assessment Project, previously used for psychometric testing of SF-36 and RAND-36. Data were collected via regular mail for a random stratified sample of the general population in a Swedish county. Weighted means for RAND-36 scores were used and differences by sex, age, education, and occupational groups were tested. Results The response rate was 42%, and the sample comprised 3432 persons (45% men, 55% women) with a median age of 56.9 years. The internal consistency reliability was satisfactory, with Cronbach’s alphas > 0.80 for all eight scales. The percentage of missing items was low, ranging between 1.3% and 3.2%. No floor effects (≥15%) were noted, while ceiling effects were observed for physical functioning, role-functioning/physical, pain, role-functioning/emotional, and social functioning. Item–scale correlations were satisfactory (r ≥ 0.40). Correlations among the physical health scales were strong (range 0.58–0.68) as were the correlations among the mental health scales (range 0.58–0.73). Men reported significantly better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on all scales, although the gender differences were small. Comparisons among age groups showed approximately equal scores among those 20–29, 30–39, and 40–49 years, while significant decreases in physical health were observed in the older age groups. Substantially worse physical health scores were observed in the oldest age group (80+). Significant differences among age groups were noted also for the mental health scales; however, better energy/fatigue and emotional well-being scores were seen in the older age groups, except for the oldest (80+). Those with university education reported significantly better scores on all scales compared to those with mandatory education. Conclusions The study suggests that the Swedish version of RAND-36 is an acceptable and reliable instrument for measuring HRQoL in the general population. The study provides reference data that can be used for norm-based comparisons.
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spelling doaj.art-c26c34e012964c6c95285acd44afbc2a2022-12-21T18:22:30ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Patient-Reported Outcomes2509-80202021-08-015111110.1186/s41687-021-00331-zThe Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health SurveyEmma Ohlsson-Nevo0Ayako Hiyoshi1Paulina Norén2Margareta Möller3Jan Karlsson4School of Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Örebro UniversityClinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro UniversityUniversity Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro UniversityUniversity Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro UniversityUniversity Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro UniversityAbstract Background This study aims to evaluate data quality, scaling properties, and reliability of the Swedish RAND-36 in a general population sample and to present reference data for the Swedish population. Methods Testing of data quality, scaling assumptions and reliability followed methods recommended for the International Quality of Life Assessment Project, previously used for psychometric testing of SF-36 and RAND-36. Data were collected via regular mail for a random stratified sample of the general population in a Swedish county. Weighted means for RAND-36 scores were used and differences by sex, age, education, and occupational groups were tested. Results The response rate was 42%, and the sample comprised 3432 persons (45% men, 55% women) with a median age of 56.9 years. The internal consistency reliability was satisfactory, with Cronbach’s alphas > 0.80 for all eight scales. The percentage of missing items was low, ranging between 1.3% and 3.2%. No floor effects (≥15%) were noted, while ceiling effects were observed for physical functioning, role-functioning/physical, pain, role-functioning/emotional, and social functioning. Item–scale correlations were satisfactory (r ≥ 0.40). Correlations among the physical health scales were strong (range 0.58–0.68) as were the correlations among the mental health scales (range 0.58–0.73). Men reported significantly better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on all scales, although the gender differences were small. Comparisons among age groups showed approximately equal scores among those 20–29, 30–39, and 40–49 years, while significant decreases in physical health were observed in the older age groups. Substantially worse physical health scores were observed in the oldest age group (80+). Significant differences among age groups were noted also for the mental health scales; however, better energy/fatigue and emotional well-being scores were seen in the older age groups, except for the oldest (80+). Those with university education reported significantly better scores on all scales compared to those with mandatory education. Conclusions The study suggests that the Swedish version of RAND-36 is an acceptable and reliable instrument for measuring HRQoL in the general population. The study provides reference data that can be used for norm-based comparisons.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-021-00331-zRAND-36Reference dataQuality of lifeSwedish
spellingShingle Emma Ohlsson-Nevo
Ayako Hiyoshi
Paulina Norén
Margareta Möller
Jan Karlsson
The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
RAND-36
Reference data
Quality of life
Swedish
title The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
title_full The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
title_fullStr The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
title_full_unstemmed The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
title_short The Swedish RAND-36: psychometric characteristics and reference data from the Mid-Swed Health Survey
title_sort swedish rand 36 psychometric characteristics and reference data from the mid swed health survey
topic RAND-36
Reference data
Quality of life
Swedish
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-021-00331-z
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