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Objective This study aimed to establish a Belgian EQ-5D-5L value set based on the preferences of the adult Belgian general population. Methods The most recent EuroQol Valuation Technology (EQ-VT 2.1) protocol for EQ-5D-5L valuation studies was followed. Computer-assisted personal interviews were carried out in a representative sample of the adult Belgian population. Potential respondents were randomly selected from the National Register using a multistage, stratified, cluster sampling with unequal probability design. Each respondent valued 10 or 11 health states using composite time trade-off (cTTO) and 14 health states in seven paired choice tasks using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). Different model specifications were explored and assessed based on logical consistency, goodness of fit, predictive accuracy and theoretical considerations. Results A total of 892 respondents were included in the analyses. The sample was representative of the Belgian adult population in terms of age, sex, region of residence, educational attainment, labour market status, self-assessed health status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The preferred model specification was a hybrid (DCE and cTTO data combined) multiplicative eight-coefficient model with intercept random effects and correction for heteroskedasticity. Values range from − 0.532 to 1. Loss of HRQoL is highest in the dimension pain/discomfort, closely followed by anxiety/depression. Conclusions This study developed a Belgian EQ-5D-5L value set, based on the preferences of the Belgian adult general population. It provides opportunities for future clinical and economic evaluations in healthcare, for the measurement of patient-reported outcomes and for population health assessments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41669-022-00353-3.

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Background Our objective was to obtain estimates of the impact of the Dutch vaccination programme on medication use, outpatient visits, hospitalization and mortality at age 65. Methods We linked population-wide mortality, hospitalization and municipality registries to identify influenza-related deaths and hospitalizations, and used health interview surveys to identify medication use and outpatient visits during 1996–2008. We applied a regression discontinuity design to estimate the intention-to-treat effect of the personal invitation for a free influenza vaccination sent to every Dutch inhabitant at age 65 years on each of the outcomes, separately in influenza-epidemic and non-epidemic months. Results Invitation receipt for free influenza vaccination at age 65 led to a 9.8 percentage points [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.5 to16.1; P < 0.01] rise in influenza vaccination. During influenza-epidemic months, it was associated with 1.5 fewer influenza/pneumonia deaths per 100 000 individuals (95% CI = −3.1 to −0.0; P = 0.05), a 15 percentage point lower probability to use prescribed medicines (95% CI = −28 to −3; P = 0.02) and 0.13 fewer General Practitioner (GP) visits per month (95% CI = −0.28 to 0.02; P = 0.09), while the association with hospitalizations due to influenza/pneumonia was small and imprecisely estimated (seven more hospitalizations per 100 000 individuals, 95% CI = −20 to 33; P = 0.63). No associations were found with any outcomes during non-epidemic months. Conclusions Personal invitations for a free influenza vaccination sent to every Dutch inhabitant at age 65 took pressure off primary health care but had small effects on hospitalizations and mortality.

Background We examine the implications of reducing the average length of stay (ALOS) for a delivery on the required capacity in terms of service volume and maternity beds in Belgium, using administrative data covering all inpatient stays in Belgian general hospitals over the period 2003–2014. Methods A projection model generates forecasts of all inpatient and day-care services with a time horizon of 2025. It adjusts the observed hospital use in 2014 to the combined effect of three evolutions: the change in population size and composition, the time trend evolution of ALOS, and the time trend evolution of the admission rates. In addition, we develop an alternative scenario to evaluate the impact of an accelerated reduction of ALOS. Results Between 2014 and 2025, we expect the number of deliveries to increase by 4.41%, and the number of stays in maternity services by 3.38%. At the same time, a reduction in ALOS is projected for all types of deliveries. The required capacity for maternity beds will decrease by 17%. In case of an accelerated reduction of the ALOS to reach international standards, this required capacity for maternity beds will decrease by more than 30%. Conclusions Despite an expected increase in the number of deliveries, future hospital capacity in terms of maternity beds can be considerably reduced in Belgium, due to the continuing reduction of ALOS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-019-4500-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.