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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2003

Open Access 01-12-2003 | Research

Quality of Life in rural and urban populations in Lebanon using SF-36 Health Survey

Authors: Ibtissam Sabbah, Nabil Drouby, Sanaa Sabbah, Nathalie Retel-Rude, Mariette Mercier

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2003

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Abstract

Background

Measuring health status in a population is important for the evaluation of interventions and the prediction of health and social care needs. Quality of life (QoL) studies are an essential complement to medical evaluation but most of the tools available in this area are in English. In order to evaluated QoL in rural and urban areas in Lebanon, the short form 36 health survey (SF-36) was adapted into Arabic.

Methods

SF-36 was administered in a cross-sectional study, to collect sociodemographic and environmental variables as well as self reported morbidity. We analysed a representative sample containing 1632 subjects, from whom we randomly picked 524 subjects aged 14 years and over. The translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the SF-36 followed the International Quality of Life Assessment methodology. Multivariate analysis (generalized linear model) was performed to test the effect of habitat (rural on urban areas) on all domains of the SF-36.

Results

The rate of missing data is very low (0.23% of items). Item level validation supported the assumptions underlying Likert scoring. SF-36 scale scores showed wide variability and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.70), factor analysis yielded patterns of factor correlation comparable to that found in the U.S.A and France. Patients resident in rural areas had higher vitality scores than those in urban areas. Older people reported more satisfaction with some domains of life than younger people, except for physical functioning. The QoL of women is poorer than men; certain symptoms and morbidity independently influence the domains of SF-36 in this population.

Conclusion

The results support the validity of the SF-36 Arabic version. Habitat has a minor influence on QoL, women had a poor QoL, and health problems had differential impact on QoL.
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Metadata
Title
Quality of Life in rural and urban populations in Lebanon using SF-36 Health Survey
Authors
Ibtissam Sabbah
Nabil Drouby
Sanaa Sabbah
Nathalie Retel-Rude
Mariette Mercier
Publication date
01-12-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-1-30

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