Tools

RAND-36 health survey

The RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0: the same items as the SF-36

The 36-Item Short Form Survey came out of the RAND Medical Outcomes Study. It is one of the most widely used measures of health-related quality of life in the world. The same 36 questions exist in two forms: the commercially licensed SF-36, and the RAND-36, which RAND distributes free of charge with no permission needed. This page uses the RAND version and its official scoring.

The survey produces eight scale scores, each from 0 to 100: physical functioning, role limitations (physical and emotional), energy, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. Because it is used across almost every area of medicine, you can set your scores against published results from ME/CFS, long COVID, and many other conditions. The physical functioning scale in particular is a standard outcome measure in post-viral research.

It takes 5 to 10 minutes. Most questions refer to the past 4 weeks. For a fatigue-specific measure, see the Fatigue Severity Scale. For activity-level functional capacity in ME/CFS, see the FUNCAP questionnaire. For a quick well-being check, see the WHO-5.

This is not a diagnostic tool. The RAND-36 measures self-reported health-related quality of life; it does not diagnose any condition. Discuss your results with your doctor. Source: RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0. RAND surveys are public documents; RAND requires no permission or fee for their use. Hays RD, Sherbourne CD, Mazel RM. The RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0. Health Econ. 1993;2(3):217–227.

1. In general, would you say your health is:

2. Compared to one year ago, how would you rate your health in general now?

The following items are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much?

3. Vigorous activities, such as running, lifting heavy objects, participating in strenuous sports

4. Moderate activities, such as moving a table, pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling, or playing golf

5. Lifting or carrying groceries

6. Climbing several flights of stairs

7. Climbing one flight of stairs

8. Bending, kneeling, or stooping

9. Walking more than a mile

10. Walking several blocks

11. Walking one block

12. Bathing or dressing yourself

During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical health?

13. Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities

14. Accomplished less than you would like

15. Were limited in the kind of work or other activities

16. Had difficulty performing the work or other activities (for example, it took extra effort)

During the past 4 weeks, have you had any of the following problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of any emotional problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious)?

17. Cut down the amount of time you spent on work or other activities

18. Accomplished less than you would like

19. Didn't do work or other activities as carefully as usual

20. During the past 4 weeks, to what extent has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your normal social activities with family, friends, neighbors, or groups?

21. How much bodily pain have you had during the past 4 weeks?

22. During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain interfere with your normal work (including both work outside the home and housework)?

These questions are about how you feel and how things have been with you during the past 4 weeks. For each question, please give the one answer that comes closest to the way you have been feeling. How much of the time during the past 4 weeks…

23. Did you feel full of pep?

24. Have you been a very nervous person?

25. Have you felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer you up?

26. Have you felt calm and peaceful?

27. Did you have a lot of energy?

28. Have you felt downhearted and blue?

29. Did you feel worn out?

30. Have you been a happy person?

31. Did you feel tired?

32. During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities (like visiting with friends, relatives, etc.)?

How TRUE or FALSE is each of the following statements for you?

33. I seem to get sick a little easier than other people

34. I am as healthy as anybody I know

35. I expect my health to get worse

36. My health is excellent