Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Various scales with proven validity and reliability are used in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in clinical trials. Short form health survey (SF-36) is often used in research based on self-report. It is short content and easily applicable. The aim of this study was to compare the different methods of the scale application and to evaluate the consistency of the methods

METHODS

This study is a methodological study and. 81 chronic patients attended Dokuz Eylul University Medical School Department of Internal Medicine were included in the study. Two different methods were applicated as face to face interview and self administration.

RESULTS

Gender distribution of the groups are similar. The refusal rates of the two methods were 26% and 35%, respectively. Percentage of the subjects who refused the questionnaire filling were higher than the subjects who acceted. Both methods were found also be quite high consistent. However, the consistency of the face to face interview was higher than the self administration (Cronbach alfa 0.934, 0.872, respectively).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The consistency of the SF-36 scale is quite high. Face to face interviews increases the level of consistency.