A 36-item, research-validated questionnaire that measures eight key dimensions of health-related quality of life.

  • Base your answers on the past four weeks (unless a question states otherwise).
  • Most people finish in ≈ 5 minutes.
  • Select the response that best represents you—there are no right or wrong answers.
  • Your responses stay on this device and are never uploaded.
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  • {{ q.id }}. {{ q.text }}
Your SF-36 Profile
Mean {{ format(overallMean) }} Physical {{ format(insights.physicalMean) }} Mental {{ format(insights.mentalMean) }} {{ insights.balanceNote }}

Each domain is transformed to a 0–100 scale (higher = better health). Scores nearer the radar center indicate relatively lower perceived health in that area.

This self-report tool does not diagnose disease. If any areas concern you or affect day-to-day life, consider discussing your results with a qualified health‑care professional.

Your Answers
#ItemResponse
{{ a.id }} {{ a.text }} {{ a.answer }}
:

Introduction:

Health related quality of life is a broad picture of how people feel and function in daily life. The SF‑36 summarizes this picture across eight areas so you can compare strengths and bottlenecks over time.

The survey reflects the past four weeks and turns everyday answers into clear scores. You respond to 36 questions and then read domain results on a 0 to 100 scale where higher means better health. A simple note highlights whether physical and mental summaries are similar or meaningfully different.

You provide one choice per item and the scoring updates when all answers are in. For example, stronger physical functioning with lower energy and fatigue suggests pacing tasks and adding short breaks so effort fits the day.

Use consistent recall windows and answer order if you plan to compare runs. Results can guide conversations and planning, yet they do not speak to diagnosis or treatment on their own.

This tool provides informational estimates and does not substitute professional advice.

Technical Details:

The SF‑36 measures health‑related quality of life (HRQoL) as perceived status over the recent past. It summarizes eight domains: Physical Functioning, Role‑Physical, Pain, General Health, Emotional Well‑being, Role‑Emotional, Social Functioning, and Energy / Fatigue. Each domain aggregates several item responses captured on ordered categories.

Each item is transformed to a 0–100 scale so domain scores are directly comparable. Items that indicate better health with higher categories are scaled linearly; items whose higher categories indicate worse health are reverse‑scaled before aggregation.

Results include eight domain scores, a Physical summary (mean of Physical Functioning, Role‑Physical, Pain, General Health), a Mental summary (mean of Emotional Well‑being, Role‑Emotional, Social Functioning, Energy / Fatigue), and an overall mean across all domains. A balance note flags when Physical and Mental summaries differ by more than five points.

Comparisons are most meaningful within the same person using consistent timing and context. Population norms or clinically validated cut‑points are not applied by this implementation.

t (v,n,r) = ( { if r=1, nv else v1 } n1 ) × 100
Symbols and units
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
v Chosen category index for an item (1…n) integer Input
n Number of categories for the item integer Constant (per item)
r Reverse‑scoring flag (1 yes, 0 no) boolean Constant (per item)
t Transformed item score points (0–100) Derived
Sd Domain score (mean of item scores in domain d) points (0–100) Derived
Sphys, Sment Physical and Mental summaries (means of their domain sets) points (0–100) Derived
Mean Overall mean across the eight domain scores points (0–100) Derived

Worked example. A 5‑category item with higher meaning better health (r=0), chosen category v=3:

t= ( v1 n1 )×100 = ( 3151 )×100=50

Reverse‑scored 5‑category item (r=1), v=4:

t= ( nv n1 )×100 = ( 5451 )×100=25

If a domain contains item scores 40, 60, and 80, its mean is 60 points, indicating moderate perceived health in that area.

Balance interpretation
Threshold Band Lower Bound Upper Bound Interpretation Action Cue
Balanced −5 +5 Physical and Mental summaries are similar. Track over time for stability.
Physical lean +5.1 Physical summary exceeds Mental by >5 points. Review mood, stress, and social supports.
Mental lean −5.1 Mental summary exceeds Physical by >5 points. Consider pacing and physical limitations.

Units, precision & rounding

Item transforms and all aggregates are reported in points on a 0–100 scale. Values are rounded to one decimal place using the locale’s decimal separator.

Validation & bounds extracted from code

Validation rules
Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error Text Placeholder
Encoded responses (r) string 36 chars 36 chars ^[0-6\-]{36}$ None 36 dashes

I/O formats

Inputs and outputs
Input Accepted Families Output Encoding/Precision Rounding
Survey responses Radio selections across 36 items Eight domain scores, summaries, overall mean 0–100 points, one decimal Locale‑aware to one decimal
Answer exports Copy or download Tabular answers and summary header CSV or DOCX As displayed

Networking & storage

Processing is client‑only. Responses are kept on the device. An encoded 36‑character string can be placed in the URL to reload answers; sharing that link shares the encoded responses.

Performance & determinism

Computation is linear in the number of items and deterministic. Identical inputs yield identical scores and visualizations.

Security considerations

Avoid sharing links that include encoded answers if privacy is a concern. Do not paste sensitive personal details into text fields when exporting.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Equal weighting of items within each domain.
  • No population norms, t‑scores, or percentile ranks are applied.
  • Change‑since‑last‑year item is not included in domain scoring.
  • Ordered categories are treated as equal intervals. Heads‑up
  • Recall window is four weeks and relies on self‑report.
  • Balance note uses a fixed 5‑point difference.
  • Charts summarize perceived status, not clinical status.
  • Comparisons across people are not adjusted for demographics.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Unanswered items prevent scoring until all 36 are complete.
  • Malformed r strings are ignored instead of partially applied.
  • Reverse‑scored items misread as direct can invert results.
  • Locale differences can change decimal separators in displays.
  • Copying answers to spreadsheets may coerce text encodings.
  • Rounding to one decimal can hide small changes.
  • Device zoom or font scaling may clip long item text.
  • Very small screens can compress axis labels in charts.
  • Third‑party blockers may interfere with export prompts.
  • Reloaded links expose encoded responses to anyone with access.

Scientific & standards backing

Design and terminology follow the RAND SF‑36 family of instruments and common SF‑36 scoring references used in health outcomes research.

Privacy & compliance

No data is transmitted or stored server‑side. For sensitive use, review applicable privacy guidance and share encoded links only with intended recipients.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

The SF‑36 captures perceived health across eight domains and returns comparable 0–100 scores.

  1. Start the survey.
  2. Answer each item for the past four weeks. One choice per line
  3. Advance through the list until all 36 items are answered.
  4. Review domain bars, the radar view, and the summary badges.
  5. Optionally copy or download your answers for records.
  6. Revisit later to compare runs using the same recall window.

Example: After completing all items, Physical summary 62 and Mental summary 58 indicates broadly similar status. Track again next month.

  • Use the same time of day for repeated runs.
  • Skim lowest‑scoring domains first for quick wins.
  • Record notable events that might shift results.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. Answers remain on your device. An encoded string in the address can reload responses if you choose to share it.

Avoid sharing links if privacy is required.
How accurate are these scores?

They reflect your self‑reported status, scaled to 0–100 using standard linear transforms. Small rounding to one decimal is applied.

Use consistent conditions when comparing runs.
What units are used?

All outputs are points on a 0–100 scale. Higher values indicate better perceived health.

Displays use your locale’s decimal separator.
Can I use it offline?

Yes, once loaded. Scoring runs on the device and does not require a connection.

Reloading external resources may require connectivity.
Does it cost anything?

No charges are applied by this app.

Licensing of the underlying instrument may apply elsewhere.
What does “borderline” balance mean?

A difference within five points between Physical and Mental summaries suggests broadly similar status. Larger gaps highlight an area to review first.

Use judgment and context when interpreting gaps.
How do I share results?

Use the export options for answers. You can also share a link that includes the encoded response string if you choose.

Anyone with the link can view encoded responses.

Troubleshooting:

  • Nothing happens after starting — scroll to the first item.
  • Progress stalls — ensure each item has exactly one selection.
  • Charts do not appear — complete all 36 items and reload once.
  • Copy or download fails — check clipboard and download permissions.
  • Encoded link does not reload — verify it has exactly 36 characters.
  • Numbers look odd — check your device’s decimal separator settings.
  • Axis labels overlap — rotate the device or widen the window.

Glossary:

SF‑36
A 36‑item survey summarizing perceived health across eight domains.
HRQoL
Health‑related quality of life, a person’s perceived health status.
Domain
A thematic group of items measuring one area of health.
Likert scale
Ordered response options representing increasing or decreasing intensity.
Reverse‑scored
An item where higher categories indicate worse health before reversal.
Summary score
The mean of selected domain scores, reported in points.
Overall mean
The average of the eight domain scores.
Encoded responses
A 36‑character string that can recreate prior answers.