The EQ-5D 5L UK Valuation Study: messaging or torturing the data?

Abstract: EQ-5D™ is a standardised instrument for use as a measure of health outcome. Recently a 5-level version of the EQ-5D descriptive system was launched -, the EQ-5D-5L. In developing the 5L, the 5-dimensional structure of the original EQ-5D-3L was retained but the levels on each dimension were expanded to 5-levels based on qualitative and quantitative studies conducted by the EuroQol Group. The labels for each of the dimensions are: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and unable to/extreme problems. Index-based values (‘utilities’) are a major feature of the EQ-5D instrument, facilitating the calculation of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) that are used to inform economic evaluations of health care interventions. A Department of Health-funded study has been undertaken to derive a set of preference values for the UK for the EQ-5D-5L instrument based on public preferences. This talk considers some of the challenges encountered in generating estimated values.