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. 2021 Mar;30(3):817-829.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02667-3. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

Validity of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire among the general population of Poland

Katarzyna Młyńczak  1   2 , Dominik Golicki  3   4
Affiliations

Validity of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire among the general population of Poland

Katarzyna Młyńczak et al. Qual Life Res. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: We aim to compare the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire with the EQ-5D-3L version and EQ VAS, based on a survey conducted in a sample representing the general adult population of Poland.

Methods: The survey comprised health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires: EQ-5D-5L, EQ VAS, SF-12 and EQ-5D-3L, together with demographic and socio-economic characteristics items. The EQ-5D index values were estimated based on a directly measured value set for Poland. The following psychometric properties were analysed: feasibility, distribution of responses, redistribution from EQ-5D-3L to EQ-5D-5L, inconsistencies, ceiling effects, informativity power and construct validity. We proposed a novel approach to the construct validity assessment, based on the use of a machine learning technique known as the random forest algorithm.

Results: From March to June 2014, 3978 subjects (aged 18-87, 53.2% female) were surveyed. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire had a lower ceiling effect compared to EQ-5D-3L (38.0% vs 46.6%). Redistribution from EQ-5D-3L to EQ-5D-5L was similar for each dimension, and the mean inconsistency did not exceed 5%. The results of known-groups validation confirmed the hypothesis concerning the relationship between the EQ-5D index values and age, sex and occurrence of diabetes.

Conclusions: The EQ-5D-5L, in comparison with its EQ-5D-3L equivalent, showed similar or better psychometric properties within the general population of a country. We assessed the construct validity of the questionnaire with a novel approach that was based on a machine learning technique known as the random forest algorithm.

Keywords: EQ-5D; EQ-5D-3L; EQ-5D-5L; General population; Health-related quality of life; Validity.

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Conflict of interest statement

KM is an employee of HealthQuest sp. z o.o., sp. kom. (Warsaw, Poland). DG is a member of the EuroQol Group, a not-for-profit organization that develops and distributes instruments that assess and value health. DG is also a shareholder of HealthQuest. All authors did not receive funding for performing this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The scheme of the novel approach for construct validity assessment as based on the theoretical model
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The comparison of the model internal error (red) and testing data set prediction error (grey) distributions. (Color figure online)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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