title: Initial development of the Temporary Utilities Index: a multiattribute system for classifying the functional health impact of diagnostic testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of testing and screening on quality of life may influence the future behavior of society, but have not been quantified. We derived a health classification and survey items for the morbidities of testing and screening, to be the foundation of a multiattribute utility instrument, the Temporary Utilities Index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six women ranked the importance of attributes of the testing process after breast biopsy. Seven survey items on the testing process were subsequently developed and assessed for clarity by a second group of 19 patients. The items cover attributes of mental and physical well-being before, during, and after testing. A survey panel of 164 subjects accessed online used the items to endorse expected and experienced effects of colon screening and mammography. They also endorsed items from a colorectal benefits and barriers scale, a risk perception scale, and EQ-5D, to utilize in the analyses of validity of the TUI items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on criteria from the literature and limited psychometric analysis, the items showed evidence of practicality, validity, and a strong association with barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TUI health classification and survey items show evidence of validity, and may inform economic analysis, once combined with utility weights.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Indiana University, 550 N. University Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Shannon@mgh-ita.org
authors.forename: J Shannon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Chung Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Elkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halpern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years