Psychometric Properties of the Short Form 12-item (SF-12) Health Questionnaire in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases with chronic low-severity inflammation. 80% of individuals with knee OA have limited movements; It was found that 25% of them could not do their daily work. In addition, it has been shown that the quality of life of individuals with OA is lower compared to healthy individuals. This showed that measuring and reporting quality of life should be mandatory in clinical studies conducted in individuals with knee OA. It was stated that the most frequently used general scales in the evaluation of quality of life in these individuals were SF-36 or SF-12. It takes a long time for the SF-36 to be filled by individuals, which creates a disadvantage for both patients and clinicians. Developed as a shorter alternative to SF-36, SF-12 has also been shown to give similar results to SF-36 in individuals with knee OA who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. However, the psychometric properties of SF-12 in individuals with knee OA have not been examined. The purpose of this study is to examine whether SF-12 is valid and reliable in individuals with knee OA and to determine the minimum detectable change (MDC) value.