OBJECTIVES: Resource-use measurement is essential for assessing cost-effectiveness within trial-based economic evaluations. ModRUM, a generic, modular resource-use measure designed for collecting self-report healthcare resource-utilisation data has recently been rigorously developed in the UK (bristol.ac.uk/modrum). We aimed to develop bolt-on modules for measuring informal care (i.e. unpaid care provided by relatives, friends or the community), social care and personal expenses.

METHODS: A rapid review, supplemented by an online survey of social-care professionals, was conducted to create a long-list of potential items. Focus groups with academic health economists, and with people who access social care, were held. Health economist participants were asked to prioritise items from the long-list; the results were used to guide both focus group discussions. Items were selected following qualitative analysis, drawing on methods of constant comparison. Draft modules were developed and tested via in-depth interviews with health economists. Think-aloud testing was undertaken with people who access social care.

RESULTS: The rapid review identified ≈750 potential resource-use items, which were grouped into ≈200 combined items. 24 social care professionals responded to the online survey; one item was renamed to reflect real usage. Five health economists and four people who accessed social care participated in the focus groups. Feedback from both groups shaped the social care and informal care modules, but suggested that the scope of personal expenses was unlikely to lend itself to a generic format; the personal expenses module was therefore changed to focus on aids and adaptations, which can be costly. Data from 10 think-aloud interviews and 5 health economist interviews guided amendments to improve the modules.

CONCLUSIONS: Three new modules (covering informal care, social care and aids/adaptations) have been developed for use alongside ModRUM, a rigorously developed standardised healthcare-utilisation questionnaire. These modules extend the use of ModRUM to studies undertaking analyses from broader perspectives than healthcare.