Measuring Resource Utilization: A Systematic Review of Validated Self-Reported Questionnaires.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Health Services Research
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Administrative data, commonly used for healthcare costing, often provide limited information.
• Self-reported questionnaires present an alternative for gathering healthcare resource utilization data.
• A systematic review summarizing validated self-reported resource utilization instruments is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify validated self-report instruments for healthcare resource use.
• To map the attributes of these identified instruments.
• To assess the validity and agreement of self-reported data compared to administrative sources.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using keywords such as "healthcare utilization" and "questionnaire."
• Inclusion criteria required studies to assess the validity of self-reported resource use questionnaires, report original data, include adult populations, and ensure public availability of the questionnaire.
• Data extracted included the type of resource utilization measured and validation findings.

Main Results:

• Fifteen studies were included in the review, covering chronic conditions, mental health, general populations, and older adults.
• Visits to general practitioners and inpatient stays were the most frequently measured resources.
• Self-reported questionnaires demonstrated good agreement with administrative data, though poorer agreement was noted for general practitioner visits, outpatient days, and nurse visits.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported questionnaires are a valid and reliable method for collecting data on healthcare resource utilization.
• These instruments can supplement or provide an alternative to administrative data, especially when administrative data is limited.
• Further research may focus on improving agreement for specific healthcare encounters.