Psychometric properties of the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep measure
Introduction
Sleep is an active and highly organized biological process that is an important component of life. For example, quantity of sleep has been found to be associated with quality of social interaction [1], but sleep is a multi-dimensional construct that includes how long it takes to fall asleep, the duration and quality of the sleep, and the extent to which sleep is perceived to be adequate.
A 12-item self-report sleep measure was developed in the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) to provide a concise assessment of important dimensions of sleep, including initiation, maintenance, respiratory problems, quantity, perceived adequacy, and somnolence [2]. The MOS sleep scale was developed at the same time and is similar, but not identical, in content to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a measure that includes several more questions about sleep disturbance and a total of seven more items overall [3]. Preliminary support for the MOS sleep measure was provided in the developmental sample of 3445 individuals with chronic illness who participated in the cross-sectional phase of the MOS. Analyses of this data set showed that insomnia had about an equal independent association with worse SF-36 scores as was found for chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure and clinical depression [4]. Similarly, a study of 70 African–Americans over the age of 65 years found that HRQOL scores of persons with sleep apnea were similar to patients with depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [5]. Manocchia et al. [6] reported that sleep problems reported on the MOS Sleep measure by chronically ill patients were associated with poorer mental health, diminished work productivity and lower work quality.
This study extends this work by evaluating the psychometric properties of the measure in the US general population and in a sample of individuals with neuropathic pain participating in a clinical trial.
Section snippets
Methods
The MOS Sleep measure yields a sleep problems index and six scale scores: sleep disturbance (have trouble falling asleep, how long to fall asleep, sleep was not quiet, awaken during your sleep time and have trouble falling asleep again), sleep adequacy (get enough sleep to feel rested upon waking in the morning, get amount of sleep needed), daytime somnolence (drowsy during day, have trouble staying awake during the day, take naps), snoring, awaken short of breath or with headache, and quantity
Results
The average age of the US general population sample was 46 (18–94 range); 51% were female and 81% were white (8% African–American, 6% Hispanic, 1% Asian, 1% Native American or Alaskan native, 3% other race). The average age of the clinical trial participants was 72 (31–100 range); 53% were female and 95% were white. Sixteen percent of the general population sample self-reported that they have a sleep problem. A larger percentage of the clinical trial participants (25%) than the general
Discussion
Analyses of data from a sample of individuals from the US general population and a sample of persons with neuropathic pain participating in a clinical trial provide further support for the reliability and validity of the MOS Sleep measure. Specifically, the measure was found to have acceptable reliability and to discriminate between patients with chronic pain and the US general population. In addition, the measure was found to be responsive to change, related to a neuropathic pain medicine.
The
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant from Pfizer to UCLA (Hays, PI). Dr. Hays was also supported in part by the UCLA/DREW Project EXPORT, National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P20-MD00148-01) and the UCLA Center for Health Improvement in Minority Elders/Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Aging (AG-02-004).
References (9)
- et al.
The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research
Psychiatr Res
(1989) - et al.
The prevalence of nocturia and its effect on health-related quality of life and sleep in a community sample in the USA
BJU Int
(2003) - et al.
- et al.
The relationship between insomnia and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic illness
J Fam Prac
(2002)
Cited by (449)
Rating scales to assess sleep disorders
2023, Encyclopedia of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms: Volume 1-6, Second EditionSleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep disturbances among hospital night workers: a prospective cohort study
2024, International Archives of Occupational and Environmental HealthPredictors of Symptoms of Depression Among Black Seventh-Day Adventists in the United States
2024, Journal of Religion and HealthSleep and discrimination among undergraduate students: A descriptive study
2024, Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment