36-Item Short Form Survey
Download a free 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Get a better understanding of how it works and how you can use it in your practice.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
What is a 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)?
Measuring our health is essential for accurately understanding our overall well-being. This helps us know what lifestyle changes we need to make to improve our physical, mental, and emotional wellness. By tracking our health over time, we can detect potential illnesses or issues and seek appropriate treatment before they become more severe or have lasting effects. Monitoring key aspects such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress levels can also allow us to adjust accordingly for optimal wellness.
The is a standardized health survey that helps individuals accurately measure their physical, mental, and emotional health. Developed by the RAND Corporation as part of its Medical Outcomes Study, the SF-36 is a widely used tool for tracking quality of life and health in clinical and research settings.
The SF-36 consists of 36 questions divided into eight domains, each measuring various aspects of health and satisfaction. Each domain is given a score based on the responses, with higher scores indicating better overall health and satisfaction. There are also shorter versions of the SF-36 survey, including the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), that can be used for quick health monitoring.
Printable 36-Item Short Form Survey
Download this 36-Item Short Form Survey and assess the health of your clients.
How does this SF-36 work?
The SF-36 survey consists of eight domains measuring various aspects of one's physical, mental, and emotional health. It's a self-report survey that takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and is used in clinical and research settings. Follow these steps to get started:
Step One: Download the assessment
Get a copy of the SF-36 using this page's link or the Carepatron app. You can also access it using our resources library.
Step Two: Provide a copy to your patient
Provide your patient with a copy of the questionnaire in paper or digital form. Explain the purpose of the survey and ensure that they understand how their responses will be used.
Step Three: Have your patient complete the survey
Instruct your patient to answer the 36 questions as accurately and honestly as possible. Give them sufficient time to complete the survey.
Step Four: Score the survey
Once your patient has completed the survey, score their answers and interpret the results. The higher the score, the higher their overall physical and mental health.
Step Five: Secure the SF-36
This form contains confidential patient information, so you must keep it in a secure place.
SF-36 example (sample)
We have created an SF-36 example to help you better understand how this survey works. This sample survey can be used as a reference when administering the SF-36 to your patients. You can view the sample here or download the PDF version.
Download the free SF-36 example (sample)
When to use an SF-36 Questionnaire?
The SF-36 questionnaire is an ideal tool for measuring health in clinical settings. You can also utilize this tool if or when:
Your patient is being treated for a long-term illness or condition
The SF-36 questionnaire is helpful when treating a long-term illness or condition. You can use it to measure the effectiveness of treatments and how well your patient is doing over time.
You’re monitoring your patient’s overall health and well-being
The SF-36 questionnaire can be used to track your patient’s overall health and well-being. It can provide valuable insight into how well they are coping and alert you to potential issues that need further attention.
You’re researching a specific population or condition
You can use the SF-36 to measure the health of a specific population or condition. The information gathered can be valuable for research and improve treatments for that particular group or condition.
Your patient has recently undergone surgery or treatment
The SF-36 is also a tremendous pre- and post-surgery/treatment monitoring tool. By using it, you can measure the patient’s health before and after any medical procedure, giving you a better understanding of their progress.
You need to assess your patient's quality of life
This tool can be helpful when determining a patient’s quality of life. It can help you understand how their health and well-being impact them, allowing you to make more informed decisions regarding their care.
Who is this printable SF-36 PDF for?
The SF-36 questionnaire can be used by various healthcare professionals, such as:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Psychologists
- Mental health practitioners
- Social workers
- Counselors
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
Researchers and professionals in the public health field can also use this tool to measure health in various settings. The SF-36 questionnaire is available in multiple languages and can be adapted to fit different cultures and populations.
Why use this SF-36 app?
Take control of your practice and make it easier to manage with Carepatron. Our comprehensive practice management platform offers various features designed to simplify your workflow and reduce the manual work you might have to do elsewhere.
From automated billing processes and appointment scheduling tools to patient record-keeping and reporting, Carepatron makes it easy to keep track of your practice and stay on top of things. Plus, you can access it anytime, anywhere – making it an excellent solution for busy clinicians on the go.
You'll enjoy greater peace of mind when running a successful practice, as Carepatron's advanced features ensure that essential tasks are handled quickly and easily. And when it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty, Carepatron will take care of the work for you – leaving you free to focus on providing excellent service to your patients.
What are you waiting for? Try out Carepatron today!
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Commonly asked questions
The RAND Corporation developed the SF-36 as part of its Medical Outcomes Study. The questionnaire was designed to measure the functionality, disability, and health of individuals.
You can use the SF-36 to measure health in a variety of settings. It is most commonly used when monitoring the effectiveness of treatments and the overall health of individuals or populations. It can also be used when assessing a patient’s quality of life.
SF-36 stands for 36-Item Short Form Survey. The 36 items refer to the number of questions used in the survey.
