Validation of the SF-6D Health State Utilities Measure in Lower Extremity Sarcoma.

Gundle KR, Cizik AM, Punt SE, Conrad EU 3rd, Davidson DJ.
Sarcoma. 2014;2014:450902. doi: 10.1155/2014/450902. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

In a recent publication in Sarcoma, UW Orthopaedics faculty, staff, and residents,sought to describe a psychometric evaluation of the SF-6D in a cross-sectional population of lower extremity sarcoma patients.

In 63 pairs of surveys in a lower extremity sarcoma population, the mean preference-weighted SF-6D score was 0.59 (95% CI 0.4-0.81). The distribution of SF-6D scores approximated a normal curve (skewness = 0.11). There was a positive correlation between the SF-6D and TESS (r = 0.75, P < 0.01). Respondents who reported walking aid use had lower SF-6D scores (0.53 versus 0.61, P = 0.03). Five respondents underwent amputation, with lower SF-6D scores that approached significance (0.48 versus 0.6, P = 0.06).

The SF-6D health state utilities measure demonstrated convergent validity without evidence of ceiling or floor effects. They found the SF-6D is a health state utilities measure suitable for further research in sarcoma patients.