Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume 50, Issue 5 , Pages 557-569, May 1997

Comparison of a generic to disease-targeted health-related quality-of-life measures for multiple sclerosis☆

  • Barbara G. Vickrey

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Barbara G. Vickrey, MD, MPH, UCLA Department of Neurology, C-128 RNRC; Box 951769, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769.
    • From the Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1769 USA
    • Health Sciences Program, RAND, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138 USA
    • ,
  • Ron D. Hays

      Affiliations

    • From the Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1769 USA
    • Health Sciences Program, RAND, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138 USA
    • ,
  • Barbara J. Genovese

      Affiliations

    • Health Sciences Program, RAND, Santa Monica, California 90407-2138 USA
    • ,
  • Lawrence W. Myers

      Affiliations

    • From the Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1769 USA
    • ,
  • George W. Ellison

      Affiliations

    • From the Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1769 USA

Accepted 22 January 1997.

Abstract 

Evaluation of the relative contributions of generic and disease-targeted measures to assessing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for chronic conditions is needed to help in selection of appropriate measures. We administered a generic HRQOL measure (the Short Form-36 [SF-36]), three disease-targeted supplemental scales to the SF-36, and two disease-targeted HRQOL instruments to 171 adults with multiple sclerosis. Most scales yielded adequate variability, internal consistency reliability, and test—retest reliability. The relationships between each measure and four primary “criterion” variables were assessed: overall symptom severity in the prior year; ambulation status; days unable to work or attend school in the prior month; and a rating of overall quality of life. Results indicate that the disease-targeted scales provided unique information not captured by the generic measure. We conclude that if a generic measure of HRQOL is desirable for a given study of multiple sclerosis, additional information will be gained by supplementing that measure with selected scales.

Keywords:  Health-related quality of life, generic measures, disease targeted measures, multiple sclerosis, SF-36, relative validity

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☆ This research was supported by a grant from the Health Services Research Grant Program of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke provided support for Dr. Vickrey through a Clinical Investigator Development Award (K08 NS01669-02). Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring institutions, RAND, or the University of California, Los Angeles.

PII: S0895-4356(97)00001-2

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume 50, Issue 5 , Pages 557-569, May 1997

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