Generic self-reported measures include which instruments?

Generic self-reported measures include which instruments?

• A. SF-36 or SF-12
• B. Disease-specific measures
• C. Gait speed
• D. Blood tests

Answer: (A)

Generic self-reported measures capture overall health-related quality of life from the patient’s perspective across multiple domains, rather than focusing on a single disease or symptom. SF-36 and SF-12 are classic examples of these broad, generic instruments. They are self-administered questionnaires that yield scores reflecting physical and mental health across domains like physical functioning, role limitations, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and emotional well-being. The longer SF-36 has 36 items; the shorter SF-12 provides a condensed version for quicker use while still covering the same broad areas. Because they assess general health status rather than a specific condition, they allow comparisons across different diseases and populations. In contrast, disease-specific measures target a particular condition, gait speed is an objective performance test of mobility, and blood tests are objective biomarkers—none of which are generic self-reported instruments.

Generic self-reported measures capture overall health-related quality of life from the patient’s perspective across multiple domains, rather than focusing on a single disease or symptom. SF-36 and SF-12 are classic examples of these broad, generic instruments. They are self-administered questionnaires that yield scores reflecting physical and mental health across domains like physical functioning, role limitations, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, and emotional well-being. The longer SF-36 has 36 items; the shorter SF-12 provides a condensed version for quicker use while still covering the same broad areas. Because they assess general health status rather than a specific condition, they allow comparisons across different diseases and populations. In contrast, disease-specific measures target a particular condition, gait speed is an objective performance test of mobility, and blood tests are objective biomarkers—none of which are generic self-reported instruments.