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Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
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A scoring system for subjective health complaints (SHC)

Hege R. Eriksen

Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, hege.eriksen{at}psych.uib.no

Camilla Ihlebæk

Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

Holger Ursin

Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

The aim of this study is to present a complete scoring system for subjective health complaints (SHC) as they are experienced by the lay population. The scoring system records the complaints, and does not map attributions or medical diagnoses. In all, 1,219 subjects (323 men, 896 women) from various occupations were tested with a scoring system, the SHC inventory, previously referred to as the Ursin Health Inventory (UHI). The SHC consists of 29 questions concerning severity and duration of subjective somatic and psychological complaints. The SHC inventory yields scores on single items and a total number of health complaints categorized into five factors: musculoskeletal pain ({alpha}=0.74), pseudoneurology ({alpha}=0.73), gastrointestinal problems ({alpha}=0.62), allergy ({alpha}=0.58) and flu ({alpha}=0.67). The SHC inventory is a systematic, easy, and reliable way to score subjective health complaints. The prevalence of these complaints is high, and should be considered before conclusions are reached about new diseases and new attributions of environmental hazards.

Key Words: fatigue • muscle pain • musculoskeletal disease • quality of life • questionnaire • reliability • scale • sensitivity • somatization disorder • tests.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 27, No. 1, 63-72 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/14034948990270010401
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