HERU Seminar - Dr Rebecca McDonald

HERU Seminar - Dr Rebecca McDonald
-

This is a past event

Dr Rebecca McDonald, Lecturer in Economics, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham will deliver the May external seminar.

Title: Understanding the composite dimensions of the EQ-5D: an experimental approach.

Authors: Rebecca McDonald (University of Birmingham); Tim Mullett (University of Warwick); Aki Tsuchiya (University of Sheffield)

Abstract: The EQ-5D(-5L) includes two composite dimensions: “Pain or Discomfort” (P/D) and “Anxiety or Depression” (A/D). Little is known about how these composite dimensions are interpreted across contexts where individuals self-report their own current health; and value hypothetical health states. We present experimental evidence from an online survey of predominantly healthy individuals (n = 1025). Individuals were asked to (i) report their current health; (ii) report the worst health they could remember experiencing; and (iii) value hypothetical EQ-5D states by completing a series of Discrete Choice Experiment tasks. Participants were randomised into treatments in which either the P/D dimension or the A/D dimension was altered, or a control. Our results imply that the composite dimensions are used differently in self-report tasks compared to valuation tasks. These differences are systematic, but they differ according to which composite dimension is altered. Specifically, it appears that the composite dimension Pain/Discomfort is treated similarly to Pain only in valuation tasks, whilst Anxiety/Depression is treated as an average of Anxiety and Depression in these tasks. Our findings support the growing evidence that caution is required when using composite dimensions in health state classification instruments.

Hosted by
Professor Marjon van der Pol
Venue
Room 115, Health Science Building, Foresterhill