TY - JOUR
T1 - Using EQ-5D in children with asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders
AU - Willems, D.C.M.
AU - Joore, M.A.
AU - Nieman, F.H.M.
AU - Severens, J.L.
AU - Wouters, E.F.
AU - Hendriks, J.J.
PY - 2009/1/1
Y1 - 2009/1/1
N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study explores several variables of the EQ-5D child version, a multi-attribute utility instrument, in children with chronic conditions. METHODS: A convenience sample was selected from hospital outpatient records and school records. The sample included children aged 7-18 years with the following chronic conditions: asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders. The practicality, convergent validity, and discriminant power were compared with a generic quality of life questionnaire for children (TACQOL) and the 2-week test-retest reliability was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 182 children or their parents completed the first questionnaire and 161 children/parents completed both questionnaires. The practicality of the EQ-5D was good. Low to moderate correlations were found between the utilities and VAS scores and the TACQOL scales. The discriminant power of the EQ-5D items was low overall and was greater for children with a rheumatic disorder than for children with the other conditions. In the subset of children who experienced no health change between the test and the retest, the reliability of the EQ-5D was moderate to high. CONCLUSIONS: The EQ-5D seems suitable for children, although the use of an additional disease-specific questionnaire is still recommended. The EQ-5D seems the most suitable for children with a chronic physical condition and appears to be reliable for children with a stable health status.
AB - OBJECTIVES: This study explores several variables of the EQ-5D child version, a multi-attribute utility instrument, in children with chronic conditions. METHODS: A convenience sample was selected from hospital outpatient records and school records. The sample included children aged 7-18 years with the following chronic conditions: asthma, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, and speech/language and/or hearing disorders. The practicality, convergent validity, and discriminant power were compared with a generic quality of life questionnaire for children (TACQOL) and the 2-week test-retest reliability was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 182 children or their parents completed the first questionnaire and 161 children/parents completed both questionnaires. The practicality of the EQ-5D was good. Low to moderate correlations were found between the utilities and VAS scores and the TACQOL scales. The discriminant power of the EQ-5D items was low overall and was greater for children with a rheumatic disorder than for children with the other conditions. In the subset of children who experienced no health change between the test and the retest, the reliability of the EQ-5D was moderate to high. CONCLUSIONS: The EQ-5D seems suitable for children, although the use of an additional disease-specific questionnaire is still recommended. The EQ-5D seems the most suitable for children with a chronic physical condition and appears to be reliable for children with a stable health status.
U2 - 10.1017/S0266462309990171
DO - 10.1017/S0266462309990171
M3 - Article
C2 - 19619359
SN - 0266-4623
VL - 25
SP - 391
EP - 399
JO - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
JF - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
IS - 3
ER -