Short Form-12 (SF-12): Assessing Patient Quality of Life Efficiently

What is the Short Form-12 (SF-12)?

First introduced nearly 30 years ago, the Short Form -12 (SF-12) is a 12-item outcome measure used to assess general quality of life and function. It is a condensed, 12-question, version of the original Short Form -36 (SF-36) and was developed intentionally to reliably reproduce summary scores of the SF-36, while minimizing the burden associated with a longer questionnaire.  As a measure of general health, the SF-12 can be utilized for any orthopedic condition or following any orthopedic intervention. 

How SF-12 scoring works: Mental (MCS) and Physical (PCS) Scores

The SF-12 score contains two summary scores, which represent the patient’s mental component score (MCS) and physical component score (PCS) relative to the population average, which is designated to be 50 points for each. One standard deviation from the mean is equivalent to a 10-point increase or decrease. 

Strengths of the SF-12 Questionnaire

The SF-12 has many strengths. Its brief 12 questions allow for quick completion of the entire questionnaire in as little as 2 minutes by patients either in the clinic or at home, minimizing burden to the patient or clinic staff. The questions themselves address several critical aspects of physical and mental health, capturing all eight of the original domains of the SF-36: 1) limitations in physical activities because of health problems; 2) limitations in social activities because of physical or emotional problems; 3) limitations in usual role activities because of physical health problems; 4) bodily pain; 5) general mental health; 6) limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problems; 7) energy/fatigue; 8) general health perceptions. Additionally, translation and validation of the SF-12 into countless languages increases its utility in clinical settings with a diverse patient population.

Considerations when using the SF-12

Due to the brief nature of the SF-12 questionnaire, its use is limited to general health-related outcomes rather than disease- or body part-specific. Furthermore, the scoring system is unlike many other patient-reported outcomes in that it is relative to the average of the US population rather than a summation of the individual questions. The US population used  in the original SF-12 survey was representative of the 1994 population, while a more recent, proprietary version of the SF-12 represents the demographic from a more recent US population.

Costs and Licensing information for the SF-12 

The SF-12 is free for clinical use, however, it does require licensing through QualityMetrics for its utilization.

Conclusion: Why the SF-12 is essential for orthopedic outcomes

The SF-12 is one of the most wide-spread patient-reported outcome measures in use, with countless validated translations and  a quick, painless completion by patients within just minutes. It excels in demonstrating changes in global physical and mental health over time, exemplifying many of the wonderful qualities of its predecessor, SF-36, with less burden on patients and clinical staff alike.

Sources | [[1] The SF-12v2 PRO Health Survey] | [[2] A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey] [[3] SF-12 OrthoToolKit]  |  [[4] 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) Facts] | [[5] RAND SF-12]