The sensitivity to change of the SF-36 in comparison with disease-specific measures in a cohort of consecutive Dutch patients with rheumatoid arthritis starting TNF-blocking therapy

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) has become an important outcome measure in daily clinical practice and research. Several disease-specific and generic measures have been developed to assess HRQL. Where disease-specific measures are more likely to reveal responses, generic measures, like the Short-Form-36 (SF-36), allow comparison between diseases. Optimal sensitivity to change is mandatory to improve healthcare research. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity to change of the SF-36 in comparison with disease-specific HRQL measures in Dutch patients with... Mehr ...