Short Form 12 (SF-12)
Clinical intent
The SF-12 questionnaire (Short Form 12) is a general health questionnaire that allows statements to be made about the patient's state of health over 2 different dimensions. It is the short form of the Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36). Some patients have complained that completing 36 questions is cumbersome. Consequently, the originators of the SF-36 developed the SF-12 [1]. Using regression analysis, Ware et al. [1] were able to select 12 questions from the SF-36 that reliably produced scores that mirrored those from the SF-36. This calculation uses the second edition of the calculation as described by Ware et al. [2].
This version of the SF-12 is non-proprietary, and the scores calculated are in reference to the United States population profile at the time of the original publication in 1994. Subsequent updates to the SF-12 have been made that align the scores with more recent U.S. demographics. However, these updates are proprietary, unlike the original SF-12. Although differences in scores between different scoring systems for the sf-12 may be minor, clinicians and researchers should note the version of the SF-12 they are using.
Clinical interpretation
Generally, highest scores indicate better outcome and lowest worse.
References
[1] Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD. A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. 1996;34(3):220-233. doi:10.1097/00005650-199603000-00003 [2] How To Score the SF-12 Physical & Mental Health Summary Scales (Second Edition) [3] Other
Pathway
Form preview
Interactive preview of the questionnaire. Not for clinical use. Responses are not stored.
