title: Multi-attribute preference functions. Health Utilities Index.
abstract: Multi-attribute utility theory, an extension of conventional utility theory, can be applied to model preference scores for health states defined by multi-attribute health status classification systems. The type of preference independence among the attributes determines the type of preference function required: additive, multiplicative or multilinear. In addition, the type of measurement instrument used determines the type of preference score obtained: value or utility. Multi-attribute utility theory has been applied to 2 recently developed multi-attribute health status classification systems, the Health Utilities Index (HUI) Mark II and Mark III systems. Results are presented for the Mark II system, and ongoing research is described for the Mark III system. The theory is also discussed in the context of other well known multi-attribute systems. The HUI system is an efficient method of determining a general public-based utility score for a specified health outcome or for the health status of an individual. In clinical populations, the scores can be used to provide a single summary measure of health-related quality of life. In cost-utility analyses, the scores can be used as quality weights for calculating quality-adjusted life years. In general populations, the measure can be used as quality weights for determining population health expectancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Torrance
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feeny
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors