PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE EUROQOL FIVE DIMENSIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE (EQ-5D) IN CAREGIVERS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN
Author(s)
Khanna R*1;Jariwala K2, Bentley JP1 1University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA, 2University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the psychometric properties of EuroQol Five Dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D) among primary caregivers of children with autism. The convergent validity, discriminant validity, known-groups validity, internal consistency reliability, and floor and ceiling effects of EQ-5D were analyzed. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional online survey design, relevant study information was collected from 316 primary caregivers of children with autism. Study participants were from families of children with autism that were registered with the Interactive Autism Network (IAN). Convergent validity of the EQ-5D was assessed through its correlation with other measures of similar constructs. Discriminant validity was assessed by observing the correlation of EQ-5D domains with theoretically unrelated constructs. Known-groups validity was tested by comparing EQ-5D index and VAS scores across levels of autism severity among the care recipients. Reliability and floor and ceiling effects of the EQ-5D were also tested. RESULTS: More than 60% of participants reported problems of ‘anxiety/depression’. Convergent and discriminant validity of the EQ-5D was good. Significant correlation (convergent validity) was observed among EQ-5D index and VAS and (SF-12v2) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Caregivers’ EQ-5D index and VAS scores varied by levels of autism severity among care recipients, providing evidence of known-groups validity. Reliability assessed through Cronbach’s alpha was less than satisfactory; however, corrected item-total correlations were adequate. Floor effects were absent, but ceiling effects were seen for EQ-5D index scores. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to test the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D among caregivers of children with autism. The EQ-5D is a psychometrically sound tool to elicit health state preferences among caregivers of children with autism.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2013-05, ISPOR 2013, New Orleans, LA, USA
Value in Health, Vol. 16, No. 3 (May 2013)
Code
PND33
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Health State Utilities
Disease
Neurological Disorders, Respiratory-Related Disorders