What are the implications for valuation of the EQ-5D when using different mental health level descriptors and severity levels? A comparison study using the EQ-5D-5L and the EQ-5D-Y-5L.

Start year: 2024

Summary: The EQ-5D-Y-5L joins a suite of EQ-5D instruments that measure and value a person’s health related quality of life (HRQoL) from ‘cradle to grave’. However, if the EQ-5D instruments are to be used to measure and value health across a person’s lifespan, it is important to understand how differences in EQ-5D instruments affect both measurement and valuation of HRQoL. This is particularly important for use of EQ-5D instruments for health technology assessment. A key difference between the EQ-5D-Y/-Y-5L and the EQ-5D-3L/5L is the conceptualisation and description of the mental health dimension, which uses ‘Feeling worried, sad or unhappy’ in the paediatric Y/Y-5L instruments rather than ‘Anxiety/Depression’, as in the adult 3L/5L instruments. There is evidence that respondents report more problems for the mental health dimension when ‘feeling worried, sad or unhappy’ is used. The impact on valuation of using different level descriptors and severity levels for the mental health dimension across the EQ-5D-Y-5L (Y-5L) and the EQ-5D-5L (5L) has yet to be tested. This study addresses this gap by comparing standard and modified items of the Y-5L and the 5L. Modified items involve swapping level descriptors and severity levels used in standard items of the Y-5L and 5L. Standard and modified items will be compared and analysed in 3 different ways. This includes exploration from a psychometrics perspective, exploring perceptions of items based on ranking of items using a BWS study and valuation of items using DCE methods. Results from this study will support EuroQol’s goals to provide guidance to users by improving understanding of the transitions between age specific EQ-5D instruments, and to promote the integration of EQ-5D instruments as a way to measure and value health across the lifespan.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.