[The version 2.0 of the SF-36 Health Survey: results of a population-representative study].

OBJECTIVES

The SF-36 is an internationally approved instrument to assess subjective health. In its second version the SF-36 contains modifications to version 1.0 in several item formulations and response categories. The second version is translated in German but a psychometric analysis and standardisation are still lacking.

METHODS

The SF-36, version 2.0, was administered in a representative German sample (n = 2043), analysed concerning its scale structure, reliability, dissemination characteristics and differences in traits of populations and compared to version 1.0 (German health survey).

RESULTS

Version 2.0 shows high reliability in subscales and has a scale structure which is comparable to that of version 1.0. The scale values in the actual population-representative sample survey are rather distributed obliquely and effects of sex, age and residence (Eastern/Western Germany) have been found in regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

The psychometric comparability of both versions is given but should interpreted with caution as regards content because of the different enquiry periods. Though the expected gain in psychometric quality and discrimination of version 2.0 to version 1.0 is evident, but does not justify a preference to version 2.0.