title: Validity of the Thai EQ-5D in an occupational population in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the construct validity of the Thai EuroQoL (EQ-5D) among an occupational population in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from a large cohort study among employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. In 2008 and 2009, 4,850 participants completed the Thai EQ-5D and Short-Form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2). Thai preferences weights were used to convert EQ-5D health states into EQ-5D index scores. Construct validity of the Thai EQ-5D was examined by specifying and testing hypotheses about the relationships between the EQ-5D, SF-36v2, and participants' demographic and medical characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Construct validity of the Thai EQ-5D was supported by expected relationships with SF-36v2 scale and summary scores. For example, SF-36v2 scores on the mental health scale were much lower for participants who reported having problems on the EQ-5D anxiety/depression dimension compared to those reporting no problems (mean norm-based SF-36v2 scores: 52.9 vs. 41.8, p < 0.001). Additionally, reporting a problem in a given EQ-5D dimension was generally associated with lower SF-36v2 summary scores. The EQ-5D index score distinguished between groups of participants in the expected manner, on the basis of sex, age, education and self-reported health, thus providing evidence of known-groups validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated good construct validity of the Thai EQ-5D in a large occupational population in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Merel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimman
authors.forename: Prin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vathesatogkit
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: E-Shyong
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thumboo
authors.forename: Sukit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamwong
authors.forename: Wipa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ratanachaiwong
authors.forename: Hwee-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Piyamitr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sritara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013785:Thailand; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*