ObjectiveTo investigate the reliability and validity of Short-Form 36 Health Survey Scale (SF-36) for evaluating quality of life (QOL) of thoracic surgery patients in a specific regional medical center,and improve care and nursing plan for these patients. MethodsNinety-five patients who were admitted in Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital from March to May 2012 were enrolled in this study. Ninety-four patients finished a valid questionnaire study including 68 male and 26 female patients with their average age of 62.0±13.0 years. Preoperative diagnosis was squamous cell lung cancer in 8 patients,lung adenocarcinoma in 6 patients,small cell lung cancer in 1 patient,esophageal cancer in 12 patients and undefined lung mass in 67 patients. Postoperative diagnosis was squamous cell lung cancer in 39 patients, lung adenocarcinoma in 28 patients,small cell lung cancer in 8 patients,esophageal cancer in 12 patients,pulmonary tuberculosis in 3 patients and inflammatory pseudo-tumor in 4 patients. Chinese edition of SF-36 was used to evaluate patients' QOL. Cronbach's coefficients (α) and split-half reliability were used to assess its reliability. Its validity was assessed through factor analysis. ResultsCronbach's coefficients (α) of SF-36 were as followed:Physical Functioning (PF) 0.721,Role-Physical (RP) 0.859,General Health (GH) 0.721,Vitality (VT) 0.899,Social Functioning (SF) 0.852,Role-Emotional (RE) 0.872,and Mental Health (MH) 0.598. Split-half reliability of each part was PF 0.725,RP 0.784,GH 0.758,VT 0.749,SF 0.745,RE 0.740,and MH 0.426. Nine principal components were extracted by factor analysis and generally reflected the 8 dimensions of SF-36,which was correspondent to the SF-36 structure. ConclusionSF-36 scale can be used to measure QOL of thoracic surgery patients with good reliability and validity.