TY - JOUR
T1 - Valuing health for clinical and economic decisions
T2 - directions relevant for rheumatologists
AU - Harrison, M.
AU - Bansback, N.
AU - Marra, C.
AU - Drummond, M.F.
AU - Tugwell, B.
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) is a construct that integrates the value or preference for a health state over the period of time in that health state. The main use of QALY is in cost-utility analysis, to help make resource allocation decisions when faced with choices. Although the concept of the QALY is appealing, there is ongoing debate regarding their usefulness and approaches to deriving QALY. In 2008, OMERACT engaged in an effort to agree on QALY approaches that can be used in rheumatology. Based on a Web questionnaire and a subsequent meeting, rheumatologists questioned whether it was relevant for OMERACT (1) to investigate use of a QALY that represents the patients’ perspective, (2) to explore the validity of the visual analog scale (VAS) to value health, and (3) to understand the validity of mapping health-specific instruments on existing preference instruments. This article discusses the pros and cons of these points in light of current insight from the point of view of health economics and decision-making theory. It also considers the further research agenda toward a QALY approach in rheumatology.
AB - The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) is a construct that integrates the value or preference for a health state over the period of time in that health state. The main use of QALY is in cost-utility analysis, to help make resource allocation decisions when faced with choices. Although the concept of the QALY is appealing, there is ongoing debate regarding their usefulness and approaches to deriving QALY. In 2008, OMERACT engaged in an effort to agree on QALY approaches that can be used in rheumatology. Based on a Web questionnaire and a subsequent meeting, rheumatologists questioned whether it was relevant for OMERACT (1) to investigate use of a QALY that represents the patients’ perspective, (2) to explore the validity of the visual analog scale (VAS) to value health, and (3) to understand the validity of mapping health-specific instruments on existing preference instruments. This article discusses the pros and cons of these points in light of current insight from the point of view of health economics and decision-making theory. It also considers the further research agenda toward a QALY approach in rheumatology.
KW - RHEUMATOLOGY OUTCOME QUALITY-ADJUSTED LIFE-YEARS QUALITY OF LIFE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79961123411&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3899/jrheum.110404
DO - 10.3899/jrheum.110404
M3 - Article
SN - 1499-2752
VL - 38
SP - 1770
EP - 1775
JO - The Journal of rheumatology
JF - The Journal of rheumatology
IS - 8
ER -