Multiattribute utility function for a comprehensive health status classification system. Health Utilities Index Mark...

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Psychometrics
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is crucial for healthcare evaluation.
• Generic, preference-based measures are needed for broad applicability.
• The Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI:2) was developed to meet this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and structure of the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI:2).
• To present the methodology for deriving preference scores for HUI:2 health states.
• To provide a scoring formula for HUI:2.

Main Methods:

• Developed a seven-attribute health status classification system (sensation, mobility, emotion, cognition, self-care, pain, fertility).
• Interviewed a random sample of 194 general population parents to elicit preferences.
• Used visual analogue scaling and standard gamble techniques to measure utilities.
• Derived a scoring formula based on a multiplicative multiattribute utility function.

Main Results:

• The HUI:2 system comprises seven attributes covering key aspects of health.
• Preference values for health states were measured and used to create a scoring formula.
• Utility scores are death-anchored (death = 0.0) and form an interval scale.

Conclusions:

• The Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI:2) provides a robust system for assessing HRQoL.
• Its preference-based utility scores are valuable for researchers across various settings.
• HUI:2 facilitates documentation of health status and assignment of preference scores.