title: EQ-5D as a generic measure of health-related quality of life in Israel: reliability, validity and responsiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire is one of the most commonly used measures of health-related quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the feasibility, reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the EQ-5D.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted face-to-face interviews with a representative sample (n = 1666) of the Israeli Jewish population. The data collected included demographic and medical information, and self-valuation of health using the EQ-5D descriptive system, Visual Analogue Scale and Time Trade-Off. Construct validity was assessed by assuming that older individuals, those with a greater burden of diseases, and those reporting experience with their own severe illness would have lower EQ-5D indexes, VAS and TTO values. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a small sample (n = 50) that was reevaluated after a 3 week interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test-retest reliability of the EQ-5D and VAS was very high (r > or = 0.85). Reliability of the TTO was moderate (r = 0.48). There were significant differences in the EQ-5D index, profiles, VAS and TTO between healthy and sick respondents and younger and older respondents, indicating good validity of the instrument.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hebrew translation of the EQ-5D is a practical, reliable and valid instrument for assessing the health-related quality of life of the general Israeli Jewish population.
authors.affiliation: Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. einavh@gertner.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Einav
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: Ifat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abadi-Korek
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shani
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shemer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005060:Europe; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*