OBJECTIVES

: There is a growing interest in Health Technology Assessment and economic evaluations in developing countries like Ethiopia to undertake cost utility analysis. The objective of this study was to derive an EQ-5D-5L value set from the Ethiopian general population.

METHODS

: A nationally representative sample (n= 1,050) was recruited using stratified multi-stage quota sampling technique. Face-to-face, computer-assisted interviews using the EuroQol Portable Valuation Technology (EQ-PVT) protocol of composite time trade-off (c-TTO) and discrete choice experiments (DCE) were undertaken to elicit preference score. EQ-PVT protocol feasibility was pilot tested in a sample of the population (n=110). A hybrid regression model combining c-TTO and DCE data was used to estimate the final value set.

RESULTS

In the pilot study, acceptability of the tasks was good and there were no special concerns with undertaking TTO and DCE task. The predicted values for the EQ-5D-5L ranged from -0.719 to 1. The coefficients generated from a hybrid model were logically consistent. Among individual attributes, anxiety/depression showed the most impact on utility decrement coefficient of 0.458, and self-care influenced the least (0.222). The maximum predicted value beyond full health was 0.974 for the ‘11112’ health state.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study successfully derived an Ethiopian general population value set for EQ-5D-5L, using modern methods (c-TTO and DCE). We expect that the availability of this value set will facilitate HTA, health-related quality of life research and inform policy decision making in Ethiopia.