Perfect Health Reporting on EQ-5D-5L: The Role of Personal, Family and Social Network Illness Experiences
Author(s)
Maja Kuharic, PhD1, A Simon Pickard, PhD2;
1Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, CHICAGO, IL, USA, 2University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Pharmacy, Systems, Outcomes and Policy, Chicago, IL, USA
1Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, CHICAGO, IL, USA, 2University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Pharmacy, Systems, Outcomes and Policy, Chicago, IL, USA
OBJECTIVES: Drawing from the behavioral economics concepts of reference dependence (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979), which refers to the tendency of individuals to evaluate outcomes and gains or losses relative to a reference point, rather than in absolute terms, we wanted to investigate the effects of past personal, family, and others' illness experiences on the likelihood of present self-reporting no health problems on EQ-5D-5L. We hypothesize that past exposure to illness in oneself or others may shift a reference point for health, making their current health status seem more favorable in comparison.
METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from data collected as part of US-valuation study with 3152 participants collected from May to September 2017. Past experience of illness was categorized as serious illness in themselves, their families or others. No problems on EQ-5D-5L was defined as health state 11111 (n=832). We constructed unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models, using stepwise variable selection methods.
RESULTS: Unadjusted analyses revealed that family (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.67-2.32), others' illness experiences (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.07-1.48) and past personal illness experience (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.44) increased the odds of reporting no problems on EQ-5D-5L. Adjusted analyses yielded similar results, with family (OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.32-1.92) and others' illness experiences (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.48) remaining significant predictors of no problems.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that illness experiences within one's social network, particularly among family members, have a significant impact on self-reported no problems on EQ-5D-5L. These results challenge the conventional assumption that current personal illness experience is the primary driver of health perceptions and highlight the importance of considering the broader social context in which health assessments are made. Exposure to illness in others may alter an individual's frame of reference, leading to a recalibration of their health expectations.
METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from data collected as part of US-valuation study with 3152 participants collected from May to September 2017. Past experience of illness was categorized as serious illness in themselves, their families or others. No problems on EQ-5D-5L was defined as health state 11111 (n=832). We constructed unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models, using stepwise variable selection methods.
RESULTS: Unadjusted analyses revealed that family (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.67-2.32), others' illness experiences (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.07-1.48) and past personal illness experience (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.44) increased the odds of reporting no problems on EQ-5D-5L. Adjusted analyses yielded similar results, with family (OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.32-1.92) and others' illness experiences (OR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.48) remaining significant predictors of no problems.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that illness experiences within one's social network, particularly among family members, have a significant impact on self-reported no problems on EQ-5D-5L. These results challenge the conventional assumption that current personal illness experience is the primary driver of health perceptions and highlight the importance of considering the broader social context in which health assessments are made. Exposure to illness in others may alter an individual's frame of reference, leading to a recalibration of their health expectations.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR30
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Health State Utilities
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas