The SF-36 profile and health-related quality of life: an interpretative analysis.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the relationship between the SF-36 scales and a direct, category-scaling, self-evaluation of health-related quality of life in a sample of healthy persons. The study of the relationship between the two provides a deeper insight into the structure and meaning of the SF-36 profile and explores its interpretability in terms of a comprehensive, subjective evaluation of health. Furthermore, this study leads to a preliminary interpretation of the profile in terms of a utility scale.