Using preference-based measures to assess quality of life in stuttering.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether standard pharmaco-economic preference methods can be used to assess perceived quality of life in stuttering.


METHODS
Seventy-five nonstuttering adults completed a standardized face-to-face interview that included a rating scale, standard gamble, and time trade-off preference measures for 4 health states (your health and mild, moderate, and severe stuttering) in the context of 2 anchor states (perfect health and death).


RESULTS
Results showed mean utility values between .443 for severe stuttering estimated using the rating scale technique and .982 for respondents' own current health estimated using a standard gamble technique. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc tests showed significant effects for method, health state, and the interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm that utility estimates can differentiate between stuttering severity levels and that utility scores for stuttering conform to the known properties of data obtained using these standard measurement techniques. These techniques, therefore, can and should be further investigated as potential contributors to complete measurement protocols for the study and treatment of stuttering.
Bramlett
Robin E
RE
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-7153, USA. bramletr@uga.edu
Bothe
Anne K
AK
Franic
Duska M
DM