Duke Health Profile
Duke Health Profile Scale · Also known as: DUKE, Duke Health Status Measure
The Duke Health Profile (DUKE) is a 17-item self-report measure of health-related quality of life developed by Parkerson and colleagues at Duke University in 1989. It assesses health across six dimensions: physical function, mental health, social function, general health perceptions, anxiety, and depression. The instrument combines brevity with multidimensional assessment, making it practical for clinical and research settings.
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When to use it
The DUKE is appropriate for general adult populations in primary care, specialty clinics, and health outcomes research. It is useful when a quick yet multidimensional health assessment is needed and administration time is limited. The DUKE is less suitable for highly specialized outcome research (e.g., arthritis trials) where disease-specific measures provide greater sensitivity.
Strengths & limitations
- Brief 17-item format is practical for busy clinical settings and survey research
- Multidimensional structure captures physical, mental, and social health domains
- Includes both positive health dimensions and symptom measures in a single instrument
- Validated in diverse populations and health conditions
- Strong predictive validity for mortality, healthcare utilization, and functional decline
- Fewer items per dimension compared to longer instruments; detailed domain exploration is limited
- Less extensively validated internationally compared to SF-36 or WHOQOL-BREF
- Limited sensitivity to change in some populations; may miss small clinically important improvements
- Variable response formats across items may increase cognitive burden in some respondents
Frequently asked
How does the DUKE compare to the SF-36?
Both assess multidimensional health status, but differ in structure. SF-36 has 36 items organized into 8 domains with extensive normative data; DUKE has 17 items in 6 dimensions and is briefer. DUKE is better for time-constrained primary care; SF-36 is better when detailed domain assessment and extensive population norms are important.
What does a low anxiety dimension score mean?
A low anxiety score (e.g., 30 on 0–100 scale) indicates significant anxiety symptoms. In context, this suggests the patient experiences frequent worry, nervousness, or tension. This dimension should prompt clinical evaluation for anxiety disorder and consideration of mental health interventions.
Can DUKE be used in pediatric populations?
The DUKE was developed for adults. Pediatric versions or adaptations have been explored but are less extensively validated. For children and adolescents, consider pediatric-specific measures like child versions of PROMIS or condition-specific instruments.
How is DUKE used in clinical decision-making?
DUKE results should be integrated with clinical assessment, not used as sole diagnostic or treatment-planning tools. A low physical function score prompts exploration of barriers (pain, fatigue, deconditioning); low mental health plus high anxiety suggests psychiatric screening; pattern analysis guides intervention.
Sources
- Parkerson, G. R., Connis, R. T., Gehlbach, S. H., et al. (1989). The Duke Health Profile: a 17-item measure of health-related quality of life. Medical Care, 28(11), 1056–1072. DOI: 10.1097/00005650-199011000-00007 ↗
- Parkerson, G. R., & Gutman, R. A. (1993). Health-related quality of life predictors of survival and medical care utilization. Health Services Research, 28(3), 345–360. link ↗
- Gehlbach, S. H., Parkerson, G. R., & Connis, R. T. (1995). Numeracy and health outcomes. Journal of Health Psychology, 1(2), 175–194. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Duke Health Profile Scale. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/health-measurement/duke-health-profile
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- EQ-5DHealth Measurement↔ compare
- PROMISHealth Measurement↔ compare
- SF-12 Health SurveyHealth Measurement↔ compare
- SF-36 Health SurveyHealth Measurement↔ compare
- WHOQOL-BREFHealth Measurement↔ compare