Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Validity of EQ-5D in general population of Taiwan: results of the 2009 National Health Interview and Drug Abuse Survey of Taiwan

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the EuroQOL five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) using a nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through comparison with short-form 36 (SF-36).

Methods

Data for this study came from the 2009 NHIS in Taiwan. The study sample was the 4007 participants aged 20–64 years who completed the survey. We used SUDAAN 10.0 (SAS-Callable) to carry out weighed estimation and statistical inference. The EQ index was estimated using norm values from a Taiwanese study as well as from Japan and the United Kingdom (UK). The SF-36 score was standardized using American norm values.

Results

In terms of concurrent validity, the EQ-5D met the five hypotheses. The results did not fulfill hypothesis that women would have lower visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores. In terms of discriminant validity, the EQ-5D fulfilled two hypotheses. Our results approached but did not fulfill hypothesis that there would be a weak association between the physical and psychological dimensions of the EQ-5D and the mental component summary score of the SF-36. Results were comparable regardless of whether the Japanese or UK norm value sets were used.

Conclusions

We were able to fulfill many, not all of our validity hypotheses regardless of whether the established Japanese or UK norm value sets or the Taiwanese norm values were used. The EQ-5D is an effective and simple instrument for assessing health-related quality of life of general population in Taiwan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Jia, H., & Lubetkin, E. I. (2005). The impact of obesity on health-related quality-of-life in the general adult US population. J Public Health (Oxf), 27(2), 156–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Coons, S. J., Rao, S., Keininger, D. L., & Hays, R. D. (2000). A comparative review of generic quality-of-life instruments. Pharmacoeconomics, 17(1), 13–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ware, J. E., Snow, K. K., Kosinski, M., Gandek, B., & New England Medical Center Hospital Health Institute. (1993). SF-36 health survey: manual and interpretation guide. The Health Institute, New England Medical Center.

  4. Ware, J. E, Jr, & Gandek, B. (1998). Overview of the SF-36 Health Survey and the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 51(11), 903–912.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lu, J. F., Tseng, H. M., & Tsai, Y. J. (2003). Assessment of health-related quality of life in Taiwan (I): Development and psychometric testing of SF-36 Taiwan version. Taiwan Journal of Public Health, 22(6), 501–511.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tseng, H. M., Lu, J. F., & Tsai, Y. J. (2003). Assessment of health-related quality of life in Taiwan (II): Norming and validation of SF-36 Taiwan version. Taiwan Journal of Public Health, 22(6), 512–518.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Glasziou, P., Alexander, J., Beller, E., Clarke, P., & Group, A. C. (2007). Which health-related quality of life score? A comparison of alternative utility measures in patients with Type 2 diabetes in the ADVANCE trial. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5, 21. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-5-21.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mahadeva, S., Wee, H. L., Goh, K. L., & Thumboo, J. (2009). The EQ-5D (Euroqol) is a valid generic instrument for measuring quality of life in patients with dyspepsia. BMC Gastroenterology, 9, 20. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-9-20.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schrag, A., Selai, C., Jahanshahi, M., & Quinn, N. P. (2000). The EQ-5D—A generic quality of life measure-is a useful instrument to measure quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 69(1), 67–73.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang, H. M., Beyer, M., Gensichen, J., & Gerlach, F. M. (2008). Health-related quality of life among general practice patients with differing chronic diseases in Germany: Cross sectional survey. BMC Public Health, 8, 246. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-246.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Liou, H. H., Chiang, S. S., Wu, S. C., Yang, W. C., & Huang, T. P. (1994). Intravenous infusion or nebulization of salbutamol for treatment of hyperkalemia in patients with chronic renal failure. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei), 53(5), 276–281.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lang, H. C., Chuang, L., Shun, S. C., Hsieh, C. L., & Lan, C. F. (2010). Validation of EQ-5D in patients with cervical cancer in Taiwan. Supportive Care in Cancer, 18(10), 1279–1286. doi:10.1007/s00520-009-0745-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chang, T. J., Tarn, Y. H., Hsieh, C. L., Liou, W. S., Shaw, J. W., & Chiou, X. G. (2007). Taiwanese version of the EQ-5D: validation in a representative sample of the Taiwanese population. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 106(12), 1023–1031. doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60078-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tsuchiya, A., Ikeda, S., Ikegami, N., Nishimura, S., Sakai, I., Fukuda, T., et al. (2002). Estimating an EQ-5D population value set: The case of Japan. Health Economics, 11(4), 341–353. doi:10.1002/hec.673.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lee, H. Y., Hung, M. C., Hu, F. C., Chang, Y. Y., Hsieh, C. L., & Wang, J. D. (2013). Estimating quality weights for EQ-5D (EuroQol-5 dimensions) health states with the time trade-off method in Taiwan. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association,. doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2012.12.015.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Dolan, P. (1997). Modeling valuations for EuroQol health states. Medical Care, 35(11), 1095–1108.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Szende, A., Oppe, M., Devlin, N. J., & EuroQol-Group. (2007). EQ-5D value sets: Inventory, comparative review and user guide: Inventory, comparative review and user guide. Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kontodimopoulos, N., Pappa, E., Niakas, D., Yfantopoulos, J., Dimitrakaki, C., & Tountas, Y. (2008). Validity of the EuroQoL (EQ-5D) instrument in a Greek general population. Value Health, 11(7), 1162–1169. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4733.2008.00356.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Shafie, A. A., Hassali, M. A., & Liau, S. Y. (2011). A cross-sectional validation study of EQ-5D among the Malaysian adult population. Quality of Life Research, 20(4), 593–600. doi:10.1007/s11136-010-9774-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Savoia, E., Fantini, M. P., Pandolfi, P. P., Dallolio, L., & Collina, N. (2006). Assessing the construct validity of the Italian version of the EQ-5D: Preliminary results from a cross-sectional study in North Italy. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4, 47. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-4-47.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ware, J. E, Jr, Gandek, B., Kosinski, M., Aaronson, N. K., Apolone, G., Brazier, J., et al. (1998). The equivalence of SF-36 summary health scores estimated using standard and country-specific algorithms in 10 countries: Results from the IQOLA Project. International Quality of Life Assessment. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 51(11), 1167–1170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Yu, S. T., Chang, H. Y., Lin, M. C., & Lin, Y. H. (2009). Agreement between self-reported and health insurance claims on utilization of health care: A population study. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 62(12), 1316–1322. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.01.016.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Myers, C., & Wilks, D. (1999). Comparison of Euroqol EQ-5D and SF-36 in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Quality of Life Research, 8(1–2), 9–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Brazier, J., Jones, N., & Kind, P. (1993). Testing the validity of the Euroqol and comparing it with the SF-36 health survey questionnaire. Quality of Life Research, 2(3), 169–180.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Aburuz, S., Bulatova, N., Twalbeh, M., & Gazawi, M. (2009). The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D: A study from Jordan. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 29(4), 304–308.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Cleemput, I., Kesteloot, K., Moons, P., Vanrenterghem, Y., Van Hooff, J. P., Squifflet, J. P., et al. (2004). The construct and concurrent validity of the EQ-5D in a renal transplant population. Value Health, 7(4), 499–509. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4733.2004.74013.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Badia Llach, X., Herdman, M., & Schiaffino, A. (1999). Determining correspondence between scores on the EQ-5D “thermometer” and a 5-point categorical rating scale. Medical Care, 37(7), 671–677.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kind, P., Dolan, P., Gudex, C., & Williams, A. (1998). Variations in population health status: rEsults from a United Kingdom national questionnaire survey. BMJ, 316(7133), 736–741.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Luo, N., Chew, L. H., Fong, K. Y., Koh, D. R., Ng, S. C., Yoon, K. H., et al. (2003). Validity and reliability of the EQ-5D self-report questionnaire in Chinese-speaking patients with rheumatic diseases in Singapore. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 32(5), 685–690.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Lubetkin, E. I., Jia, H., & Gold, M. R. (2004). Construct validity of the EQ-5D in low-income Chinese American primary care patients. Quality of Life Research, 13(8), 1459–1468.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Brazier, J., Connell, J., Papaioannou, D., Mukuria, C., Mulhern, B., Peasgood, T., et al. (2014). A systematic review, psychometric analysis and qualitative assessment of generic preference-based measures of health in mental health populations and the estimation of mapping functions from widely used specific measures. Health Technology Assessment, 18(34), 1–188. doi:10.3310/hta18340.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Health Research Institute, Taiwan, through Grants 01A1-PHPP18-014, 02A1-PHPP17-014. This study is based on data from the National Health Interview Survey. Original Database provided by Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, and Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, and National Health Research Institute, Taiwan. We are grateful for the NHIS team members, especially for the ‘Fieldwork Operation Center of Community-based Health Survey.’ The interpretation and conclusions contained herein do not represent those of Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, and Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Preventive Medicine and Health Service Research, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, No. 35, Keyan Rd., Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, 350, Taiwan, ROC

    Sheng-Tsung Yu & Hsing-Yi Chang

  2. Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Kai-Ping Yao

  3. Surveillance and Research Division, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    Yu-Hsuan Lin & Baai-Shyun Hurng

Authors
  1. Sheng-Tsung Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hsing-Yi Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kai-Ping Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yu-Hsuan Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Baai-Shyun Hurng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hsing-Yi Chang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, ST., Chang, HY., Yao, KP. et al. Validity of EQ-5D in general population of Taiwan: results of the 2009 National Health Interview and Drug Abuse Survey of Taiwan. Qual Life Res 24, 2541–2548 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-0978-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-0978-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation