International Valuation Protocol for the EQ-5D-Y-3L.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Psychometrics
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• The EQ-5D-Y-3L is a key health-related quality-of-life instrument for pediatric populations.
• Currently, no published value sets exist for the EQ-5D-Y-3L suitable for cost-utility analyses.
• Methodological studies have begun exploring the valuation of child health states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a valuation protocol for the EQ-5D-Y-3L instrument.
• To address critical research questions regarding the need for separate values, elicitation of values from children versus adults, and appropriate valuation methods.
• To present the finalized EQ-5D-Y-3L valuation protocol.

Main Methods:

• The EuroQol Research Foundation conducted a research program to inform protocol development.
• Discrete choice experiments were used to determine the relative importance of EQ-5D-Y-3L dimensions and levels.
• Composite time-trade-off methods were employed to anchor these values on a scale where Full Health equals 1 and Dead equals 0.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive valuation protocol for the EQ-5D-Y-3L has been developed.
• The protocol integrates discrete choice experiments and composite time-trade-off methods.
• The protocol provides a standardized approach for generating EQ-5D-Y-3L value sets.

Conclusions:

• The developed protocol is now available for research teams globally.
• This facilitates the generation of country-specific EQ-5D-Y-3L value sets.
• Enables robust cost-utility analyses for interventions targeting younger populations.