Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the EQ-5D-Y: results from a multinational study

Abstract

PurposeTo examine the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the newly developed EQ-5D-Y.MethodsThe EQ-5D-Y was administered in population samples of children and adolescents in Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Percentages of missing values and reported problems were calculated. Test–retest reliability was determined. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients with other generic measures of HRQOL were calculated. Known groups’ validity was examined by comparing groups with a priori expected differences in HRQOL.ResultsBetween 91 and 100% of the respondents provided valid scorings. Sweden had the lowest proportion of reported problems (1–24.9% across EQ-5D-Y dimensions), with the highest proportions in South Africa (2.8–47.3%) and Italy (4.3–39.0%). Percentages of agreement in test–retest reliability ranged between 69.8 and 99.7% in the EQ-5D-Y dimensions; Kappa coefficients were up to 0.67. Correlation coefficients with other measures of self-rated health indicated convergent validity (up to r = −0.56). Differences between groups classified according to presence of chronic conditions, self-rated overall health and psychological problems provided preliminary evidence of known groups’ validity.ConclusionsResults provide preliminary evidence of the instrument’s feasibility, reliability and validity. Further study is required in clinical samples and for possible future applications in economic analyses.

Diet Quality and Feelings of Worry, Sadness or Unhappiness in Canadian Children

“…[9][10][11]24 Many youngsters experience depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a diagnosis, 13 that may in fact represent early markers for mental health problems in adulthood. 12,13 Ravens-Sieberer et al 25 confirmed this by revealing a strong correlation of EQ-5D-Y responses with borderline and abnormal mental health problems using the same survey instrument (EQ-5D-Y) as was used in the current study. Our observation that 42% of girls and 29% of boys report some degree of feelings of being worried, sad or unhappy adds to the concern that subclinical markers for future mental health problems are very prevalent.…”

Reporting of Cultural Factors in Autism Research Publications in Sweden: Application of the GAP-REACH Checklist

“…Yet, a closer examination of the introduction, methods, and references sections of the study report, points to several important aspects that could explain these findings. Firstly, the study aimed to explore health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents in relation to their disability using the Swedish child-friendly version of the instrument-the EuroQoL Five Dimensions Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-Y)-introduced and tested by the EuroQol Group (Burström et al 2010;Ravens-Sieberer et al 2010). In this regard, the study by Domellöf et al (2014) can be viewed as an example of the cross-cultural application of the EQ-5D-Y in the cultural context of the Swedish health-care system, which explains why the REC terms were mentioned in the study.…”

Parent-child discrepancy in the assessment of health- related quality of life using the EQ-5D-Y questionnaire

“…EQ-5D-Y questionnaire and its proxy version: The Spanish version of the EQ-5D-Y questionnaire 21 and its proxy version 6 include a descriptive section made up of five domains with three answer levels ("no problems," "some problems," and "a lot of problems"). The questionnaire domains are mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression.…”