Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring changes in quality of life following magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: SF-36, EuroQol© or Rosser index?

  • Research Papers
  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Evidence suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows accurate diagnosis of meniscal and ligamentous injuries of the knee. However the link between improved diagnosis through MRI and improved patient quality of life (QOL) has yet to be shown. Previous studies almed at establishing this link have found no significant improvements in health related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured by the Rosser classification and index. This paper presents the results of three HRQOL questionnaires (SF-36, Rosser and EuroQol©) used to measure health change in 332 patients referred for MRI of the knee. Before imaging, patients reported poorer HRQOL than the general population on two of the three questionnaires (SF-36 and EuroQol©). The same two questionnaires recorded significant improvements in patient health at six months, although patients' health had not yet reached that experienced in the general population. There was evidence to suggest that the index values attached to the Rosser classification made it unresponsive in this group of patients, which may have predisposed the null results of previous studies of the influence of MRI on HRQOL. Some evidence is provided to suggest that the EurolQol© may be less responsive in assessing change in health status than the SF-36.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reicher MA, Rauschning W, Gold RH, et al. High resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joint: normal anatomy.Am J Roentgenol 1985;145: 895–902.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mackenzie R, Logan BM, Shah NJ, et al. Direct anatomical-MRI correlation: the knee.Surg Radiol Anat 1994;16: 183–192.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fischer SP, Fox JM, Del Pizzo W, et al. Accuracy of diagnosis from magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: a multi centre analysis of one thousand and fourteen patients.J Bone Joint Surg 1991;73A: 2–10.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mackenzie R, Hollingworth W, Dixon AK. Quality of life assessments in the evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging.Qual Life Res 1994;3: 29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Teasdale GM, Hadley DM, Laurence A, et al. Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in suspected lesions in the posterior cranial fossa.BMJ 1989;299:349–355.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Szczepura AK, Fletcher J, Fitz-Patrick JD. Cost effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging in the neurosciences.BMJ 1991;303: 1435–1439.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dixon AK, Southern JP, Teale A, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and spine: effective for the clinician or the patient?BMJ 1991;302: 79–82.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dixon AK, Wheeler TK, Lomas D, Mackenzie R. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging for axillary symptoms following treatment of breast carcinoma? A randomised trialClin Radiol 1993;48: 371–376.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mackenzie R, Lomas DJ, Villar RN, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging for the problem knee: A randomised clinical trial.Br J Radiol 1993;66 (Suppl.): 21.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rosser R, Kind P. A scale of valuations of states of illness is there a social consensus?Int J Epidemiol 1978;7: 347–358.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gudex C, Kind P.The QALY Toolkit. York: Centre for Health Economics, University of York, 1988. [Discussion paper 38].

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kind P, Gudex CM. Measuring health status in the community: a comparison of methods.J Epidemiol Community Health 1994;48: 86–91.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Spiegelhalter DJ, Gore SM, Fitzpatrick T, et al. Quality of life measures in health care. III: resource allocation.BMJ 1992;305: 1205–1209.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Carr-Hill RA. Assumptions of the QALY procedure.Soc Sci Med 1989;29: 469–477.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Donaldson C, Atkinson A, Bond J, Wright K. Should QALYs be program specific.J Health Econ 1988;7: 239–257.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gore SM. Statistics in question. In: Gore SM, Altman DGStatistics in practice London: British Medical Association, 1982: 27–94.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Goin JE, Hermann GA. The clinical efficacy of diagnostic imaging evaluation studies: problems, paradigms and prescriptions.Invest Radiol 1991;26: 507–511.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Todd C, Bradley C. The design and development of psychological scales. In: Bradley C, ed.Handbook of psychology and diabetes: A guide to psychological measurement in diabetes research and practice. Chur, Switzerland: Harwood Academic, 1994; 15–42.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Guyatt G, Walter S, Norman G. Measuring change over time: Assessing the usefulness of evaluative instruments.J Chron Dis 1987;40: 171–178.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ware JE, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36).Med Care 1992;30: 473–482.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jenkinson C, Wright L, Coulter A.Quality of life measurement in health care: A review of measures and population norms for the UK SF-36. Oxford: Health Services Research Unit, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  22. EuroQol© Group. EuroQol©—a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life.Health Policy 1990;16: 199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Brazier JE, Harper R, Jones NMB, et al. Validating the SF-36 health survey questionnaire: new outcome measure for primary care.BMJ 1992;305: 160–164.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Garratt AM, Ruta DA, Abdalla MI, et al. The SF 36 health survey questionnaire: an outcome measure suitable for routine use within the NHS?BMJ 1993;306: 1440–1444.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ruta DA, Abdalla MI, Garratt AM, et al. SF 36 health survey questionnaire: I. Reliabiliity in two patient based studies.Quality in Health Care 1994;3: 180–185.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Garratt AM, Ruta DA, Abdalla MI, Russell IT. SF 36 health survey questionnaire: II. Responsiveness to changes in health status in four common clinicial conditions.Quality in Health Care 1994;3: 186–192.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kind P. Practical and methodological issues in the development of the EuroQol: The York experience. In: Albrecht GL and Fitzpatrick R, eds.Advances in medical sociology Vol 5: Quality of Life. Greenwich, Connecticut: JAI Press, 1995; 219–253.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ware JE, Snow KK, Kosinski M, Gandek BSF-36 Health survey. Manual and interpretation guide. Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Centre, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Interim values provided by the Research Group on the Measurement and Valuation of Health (MVH group), University of York [Personal communication, MVH Group, June 1994]

  30. Kind P, Gudex C.The HMQ: measuring health status in the community. York: Centre for Health Economics, University of York, 1991 [Discussion paper no. 93]

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jenkinson C, Coulter A, Wright L. Short form 36 (SF 36) health survey questionnaire: normative data for adults of working age.BMJ 1993;306: 1437–1440.

    Google Scholar 

  32. University of York,Mimeo. ‘The Measurement and valuation of health’. May 1994.

  33. Williams A, Kind P. The present state of play about QALYs. In: Hopkins A, ed.Measures of the quality of life, and the uses to which such measures may be put. London: RCP publications, 1992; 21–33.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Brazier J, Jones N, Kind P. Testing the validity of the Euroqol and comparing it with the SF-36 health survey questionnaire.Qual Life Res 1993;2: 169–180.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lydick E, Epstein RS. Interpretation of quality of life changes.Qual Life Res 1993;2: 221–226.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hurst NP, Jobanputra P, Hunter M, et al. Validity of EuroQol—A generic health status instrument—in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Br J Rheumatol 1994;33: 655–662.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services Research Group, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, CB2, 2SR, Cambridge, UK

    W. Hollingworth & C. J. Todd

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge

    R. Mackenzie & A. K. Dixon

Authors
  1. W. Hollingworth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Mackenzie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. J. Todd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. K. Dixon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hollingworth, W., Mackenzie, R., Todd, C.J. et al. Measuring changes in quality of life following magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: SF-36, EuroQol© or Rosser index?. Qual Life Res 4, 325–334 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01593885

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01593885

Key words

Search

Navigation