Creating a personalized evaluation framework for patient-reported outcomes: an illustration using the EQ-5D visual...

Area of Science:

• Health Outcomes Research
• Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Developing intuitive frameworks for Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) is crucial for accurate health assessments.
• The EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS) is a widely used PRO measure requiring clear interpretation.
• Personalized evaluation frameworks can enhance the understanding of individual health status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate an intuitive, personalized framework for interpreting Patient-Reported Outcomes.
• To assess patient comprehension and utility of a personalized framework using the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS).

Main Methods:

• A draft framework was developed, prompting patients to categorize health levels on the EQ-5D-VAS.
• Semi-structured interviews with cardiovascular disease patients were conducted in three waves to refine the framework.
• Patient comprehension of the framework and their defined health level mappings were assessed.

Main Results:

• Four health levels (Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent) were generally agreed upon by 57.1% of 14 participants.
• Significant variability was observed in patient-defined boundaries for each health level.
• All participants demonstrated comprehension of the revised framework by wave 3.

Conclusions:

• The personalized evaluation framework for the EQ-5D-VAS was well understood by patients.
• Variability in level boundaries highlights the relevance of personalized interpretation in PROs.
• This approach offers a more nuanced understanding of individual responses to the EQ-5D-VAS.