INNOVATION IN THE MEASUREMENT OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE: THE EQ-5D R&D PROGRAMME
EQ-5D is one of the most widely reported index measure of health status in both clinical and economic studies. Its availability in more than 120 language versions reflects the adoption of EQ-5D on a global basis. For more than 20 years the EuroQol Group has been working on research connected with the measurement and valuation of health-related quality of life (HrQoL). This symposium provides a briefing on the extended research programme that underpins the continuing development of EQ-5D.
Moderator: Paul Kind, Director, Quality Outcomes, York, UK
EXTENDING THE DESCRIPTIVE SYSTEM OF EQ-5D
The original 3-level EQ-5D descriptive system has withstood the test of time. However, some users have expressed interest in increasing the response levels within the existing 5-dimensions. The design of a new 5-level version of EQ-5D has been the subject of a 2-year international research programme, the results of which will be summarized by one of its principal investigators.
Andrew Lloyd BSc, DPhil, Director, Oxford Outcomes, Oxford, UK
VALUING MORE COMPLEX DESCRIPTIVE SYSTEMS: DCE AND TTO
The issues associated with developing a suitable scoring system for any HrQoL instrument are well-known and are common to all the principal index measures – the valuation procedure itself, the selection of a subset of health states, estimation model design and the choice of respondents. The emergence of a more complex 5-L descriptive system necessitates novel solutions to some of these and provides an opportunity to revisit traditional valuation methods.
Ben van Hout PhD, Scientific Director, Pharmerit International & Professor of Medical Technology Assessment, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
EQ-5D-Y: A VERSION OF EQ-5D DESIGNED FOR USE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN
Children and young people account for a significant proportion of any country’s population. The majority of generic HrQoL measures were designed for use with adults. The EuroQol Group has now developed an instrument that replicates the general design of EQ-5D but in a form suitable for use with individuals aged 8 to 16. Results from studies in Sweden, Germany and Italy will be presented.
Luciana Scalone PharmD, ScD, Researcher, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
21ST CENTURY SOLUTIONS: EQ-5D IN THE DIGITAL AGE
EQ-5D began life as the practice warm-up task in a valuation questionnaire designed to investigate the value of health within and between countries. Times have changed and the design constraints of the available technology that led to a paper & pencil format are no longer there. New technology offers exciting new initiatives from PDA to web-based solutions, from HrQoL assessment to health state valuation surveys but new quality assurance challenges too.
Frank de Charro PhD, Executive Director, EuroQol Group, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Q & A: OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM
Other senior members of the EuroQol Group will be present during the Symposium to field any further discussion of our current research programme, including
- Meta-analysis and review of EQ-5D use in specific disease areas
- EQ-5D as a performance measurement tool
- EQ-5D as a summary measure of population health
- Translation and testing of EQ-5D in new languages
- Developing standard valuation protocols for EQ-5D
- Application in clinical and economic studies
6:00PM-6:30PM SYMPOSIUM RECEPTION (All symposium attendees welcome)
