SF-36 Health survey: Is it suitable for use with older Chinese Adults with Diabetes ?

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the SF-36 (China version) with a sample of older Chinese with type 2 diabetes living in Beijing, China. The SF-36 was administered to community-based sample of 182 older adults with diabetes living in Beijing. Data collection was conducted in face-to-face interviews. Explanatory principal components analyses (PCA) were conducted to compare the sample's response patterns with the hypothesized scale constructs. Item level validation of the scale supported the assumptions of the hypothesized structure. Internal-consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha >.70) of the subscales showed acceptable values except for the General Health subscale (0.67). PCA confirmed general support of the two hypothesized dimensional factors and eight concepts (factors). The physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) explained 62.26% of the variance and the eight factors components explained 67.39% of the variance.

The results demonstrated the SF-36 Chinese has good feasibility, acceptability, reliability, and validity. In addition, the scale performed well in discriminating participants with high vs. no or low blood pressure, those with and without, heart problems, and those with no and low and moderate to severe levels of depressive symptomatology. Overall the findings suggest that the SF-36 Chinese is conceptually equivalent to the English version, indicating that it is a culturally adequate tool for measuring health-related quality of life in older Chinese with diabetes in mainland China. The SF-36 can be used as an assessment tool for health status/health-related quality of life in Chinese older adults.