Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to compare discriminant validity evidence of 2 generic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) and level 5 of EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), for use in emergency departments (EDs).

Methods

Data were obtained via a cross-sectional survey of 5876 patients in British Columbia (Canada) who completed a questionnaire after visiting an ED in 2018. We compared the extent to which the VR-12 and the EQ-5D-5L distinguished among groups of ED patients with different levels of comorbidity burden and self-reported physical and mental or emotional health status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the ability of the 2 PROMs to identify patients presenting with a mental health (MH) condition.

Results

All the measures produced small effect sizes (ESs) for discriminating comorbidity levels (R = 0.19). Having a MH condition was predominantly identified by the MCS (Pratt index = 0.56).

Conclusions

The VR-12 PROM provides a more comprehensive measurement of MH than the EQ-5D-5L, which is important to inform healthcare service needs for patients who present in EDs with MH challenges.