Developing and testing culturally relevant bolt-on items for EQ-5D-5L in Chinese populations: a mixed-methods study...

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Psychometrics
• Cultural Adaptation of Health Measures

Background:

• The EQ-5D is a widely used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure, but its sensitivity is limited in certain populations and cultural contexts, particularly in China.
• Existing HRQoL measures may not fully capture the nuances of health status within the Chinese population, necessitating culturally specific adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, develop, and psychometrically test culturally relevant bolt-on items for the EQ-5D-5L in China.
• To enhance the sensitivity and cultural appropriateness of the EQ-5D-5L for use in the Chinese population.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining literature reviews, expert consultations, and qualitative interviews to identify candidate bolt-on items.
• Quantitative testing of candidate items' acceptability and measurement properties (distributional characteristics, construct validity) in general and patient populations.
• Assessment of test-retest reliability using two-time-point data collection in patient groups.

Main Results:

• The study protocol outlines a comprehensive process for selecting culturally relevant bolt-on items based on both qualitative and quantitative evidence.
• This research is the first to propose and examine the psychometric properties of culturally relevant bolt-on items for the EQ-5D-5L in China.

Conclusions:

• The developed bolt-on items aim to improve the accuracy and cultural relevance of HRQoL assessments in China.
• This study provides a framework that can guide similar adaptations of HRQoL measures in other cultural settings.