Clustering and the design of preference-assessment surveys in healthcare.
OBJECTIVE
To show cluster analysis as a potentially useful tool in defining common outcomes empirically and in facilitating the assessment of preferences for health states.


METHODS
A survey of 224 patients with ventricular arrhythmias treated at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California.


METHODS
Physical functioning was measured using the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), and mental status and vitality using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 items (SF-36). A "k-means" clustering algorithm was used to identify prototypical health states, in which patients in the same cluster shared similar responses to items in the survey.


RESULTS
The clustering algorithm yielded four prototypical health states. Cluster 1 (21 percent of patients) was characterized by high scores on physical functioning, vitality, and mental health. Cluster 2 (33 percent of patients) had low physical function but high scores on vitality and mental health. Cluster 3 (29 percent of patients) had low physical function and low vitality but preserved mental health. Cluster 4 (17 percent of patients) had low scores on all scales. These clusters served as the basis of written descriptions of the health states.


CONCLUSIONS
Employing a clustering algorithm to analyze health status survey data enables researchers to gain a data-driven, concise summary of the experiences of patients.
Lin
A
A
Department of Statistics, Stanford University, CA, USA.
Lenert
L A
LA
Hlatky
M A
MA
McDonald
K M
KM
Olshen
R A
RA
Hornberger
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002140:California; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006306:Health Surveys; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation