Valuation of the 15D measure of health-related quality of life

The measurement of effectiveness of health care technologies requires a suitable instrument. Such an instrument is the 15D, a generic, sensitive and easy-to-use measure of health-related quality of life for adult population, available in 18 languages. It is comprised of 15 dimensions measuring physical, mental and social wellbeing and ability of function. The 15D can be used as a profile and a single index measure.
One aim of the 15D valuation study is to update the 15D valuations by using the same methodology as when eliciting 15D valuations from the general population in 1992. This aim is motivated by possible changes in valuations over years. The updating strengthens the position of the 15D as an up-to-date, credible and useful instrument.
The second aim is to apply personal SG- (standard gamble), TTO- (time trade-off) and PTO- (person-trade-off) valuation methods administered through patient interviews and quastionnaires to 15D health states so that the states to be valued are not described explicitly in a written form as usually. Instead, the patients map their health state on the 15D questionnaire and value that state with the methods indicated. Thus SG-, TTo- and PTO-valuations are carried out in an innovative and more valid way and conclusions can be drawn about the validity of the 15D valuations based on its present 3-stage valuation method. The third aim is to compare the average scores produced by different quality of life instruments in different age groups of the population with the average scores obtained in these age groups, when they value their health own state with TTO. The forth aim is to translate the 16D (for youngsters aged 12-15) and 17D (for children aged 8-11) into Swedish and English. Especially the English translations would greatly facilitate translations into other languages.

Keywords: valuation, quality of life, evaluation, 15D