Question 4: How are the patients' scores on the SF-36 in comparison to the U.S. Norm sample?

   The pre and posttest scores of the eight patients were compared to the U.S. norm male population, age 55-64. First, we compared the mean for physical functioning of the eight patients with the U. S. norm population. We found that for our sample the pre test mean for physical functioning was 49. 10 (SD = 10.58) while the mean for the U.S. norm population was 48.16 (SD = 10.23). These results suggest that initially our sample was very similar to the norm population. We also compared our sample' posttest mean on physical functioning with the U.S. norm population. We found that for our sample, the posttest mean for physical functioning was 52.02 (SD = 8.16), which was higher than the U.S. norm population.

   Second, we compared the mental health's pre test mean of the eight patients with the U. S. norm population. In our sample, the pre test mean for the mental health scale was 52. 91 (SD = 6.47) and for the U.S norm population was 52. 53 (SD = 9.67). Once again, our sample's pre test mean is similar to the norm population. However, we found that for our sample, the posttest mean for mental health was 55.32 (SD = 3.69), which was higher than the norm population.