VR-12

The Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) (VR-12) is a health survey designed to measure health-related quality of life by evaluating physical and mental health. It captures physical functioning, emotional problems, and general health perceptions to provide a comprehensive view of health status. The survey is widely used to assess health outcomes in veterans through the Veterans Health Administration and public health programs like the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey.

The Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) generates two key scores: the PCS and the MCS. These scores summarize physical and mental health status by weighting responses across health domains, including physical functioning, general health, and emotional problems. Standardized to a population norm (mean = 50, SD = 10), the scores enable comparisons across groups.

Validated through the Veterans Health Study and research by Boston University, the VR-12 ensures reliability and validity through confirmatory factor analyses and positive factor loadings. The physical component summary (PCS) reflects physical health outcomes, while the mental component summary (MCS) captures mental health, making it a robust tool for measuring health-related quality.

Derived from the Medical Outcomes Study and VR-36, the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) is a concise yet comprehensive tool that evaluates both physical and mental health summary scores. Compared to PROMIS global health scale instruments, the VR-12 focuses on health outcomes in veterans and populations with poorer health status. Its design ensures accurate and meaningful insights into physical and mental health outcomes while minimizing respondent burden.