TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences in EQ-5D-3L health state valuations among patients with musculoskeletal diseases, health care professionals and healthy volunteers

AU - Schwalm, Anja

AU - Feng, You Shan

AU - Moock, Jörn

AU - Kohlmann, Thomas

PY - 2015/11/1

Y1 - 2015/11/1

N2 - Background: Results from existing studies indicate that different respondent groups’ health state valuations in cost-utility analyses are not equivalent. Objectives: The objectives in our study were to analyse differences in health state valuations among three respondent groups in the context of medical rehabilitation in Germany. Methods: Using the time trade-off (TTO) technique, valuations of EQ-5D-3L health states were obtained from patients with musculoskeletal diseases, healthy volunteers and health care professionals. We used linear mixed models to predict TTO utilities and specified and tested interaction effects. Results: We identified statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences among the three groups in six out of 42 health states. On average, patients’ TTO values were somewhat higher compared with other respondent groups. Most of these differences occurred in severe health states. Mean differences and mean absolute differences were 0.02 and 0.14 for patients vs healthy volunteers and 0.06 and 0.14 for patients vs health care professionals. Furthermore, significant effects among respondents were observed for seven of the 22 possible interactions describing differences between respondent groups. Coefficients associated with significant interaction effects ranged from 0.08 to 0.18 (absolute values). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that TTO valuations of health states differ depending on the specific respondent group from which valuations are obtained. On average, these differences were small. However, researchers and decision makers should remain aware of these differences when interpreting incremental cost-utility assessments.

AB - Background: Results from existing studies indicate that different respondent groups’ health state valuations in cost-utility analyses are not equivalent. Objectives: The objectives in our study were to analyse differences in health state valuations among three respondent groups in the context of medical rehabilitation in Germany. Methods: Using the time trade-off (TTO) technique, valuations of EQ-5D-3L health states were obtained from patients with musculoskeletal diseases, healthy volunteers and health care professionals. We used linear mixed models to predict TTO utilities and specified and tested interaction effects. Results: We identified statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences among the three groups in six out of 42 health states. On average, patients’ TTO values were somewhat higher compared with other respondent groups. Most of these differences occurred in severe health states. Mean differences and mean absolute differences were 0.02 and 0.14 for patients vs healthy volunteers and 0.06 and 0.14 for patients vs health care professionals. Furthermore, significant effects among respondents were observed for seven of the 22 possible interactions describing differences between respondent groups. Coefficients associated with significant interaction effects ranged from 0.08 to 0.18 (absolute values). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that TTO valuations of health states differ depending on the specific respondent group from which valuations are obtained. On average, these differences were small. However, researchers and decision makers should remain aware of these differences when interpreting incremental cost-utility assessments.

KW - Health sciences

KW - Quality-adjusted life years

KW - Patient preference

KW - Health status

KW - Quality of life

KW - Cost effectiveness

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84944158118&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10198-014-0636-y

DO - 10.1007/s10198-014-0636-y

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 25283996

VL - 16

SP - 865

EP - 877

JO - The European journal of health economics

JF - The European journal of health economics

SN - 1618-7598

IS - 8

ER -