Psychometric properties of a Chinese translation of the SF-36Health Survey Questionnaire in the Well Elderly Study

Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese translation of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in the Well Elderly Study-a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive occupational therapy services specifically tailored for multiethnic, independent-living, older adults. Methods: Translation and back-translation procedures were used to obtain appropriate meanings for the SF-36 survey questions and to ensure face, functional, and conceptual equivalence. Results: Statistical analyses demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, with the results generally similar to those reported for older Angle adults. Discussion: As the percentage of older adults of diverse ethnicity increases, the need for health care research and service strategies that can effectively include multiple ethnicities becomes paramount. The results of this study suggest that a Chinese-translated SF-36 can be used to assess multiple dimensions of health in a Mandarin-speaking population of older adults.