title: Measuring health-related quality of life by experiences: the experience sampling method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential value of obtaining momentary, instead of retrospective, accounts of the description and valuation of a person's own health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Momentary HRQOL was examined with the experience sampling method (ESM) in 139 participants from four different samples. The ESM consists of a so-called beep questionnaire that was administered 10 times a day by an electronic device. Feasibility was determined by assessing willingness to participate in the study and by analyzing the percentage of dropouts and the number of completed beep questionnaires. Multilevel analysis was used to investigate the relation between momentary HRQOL and momentary feelings and symptoms. The relation between momentary outcomes and the EuroQol visual analogue scale was investigated with a multiple regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall participation rate was low, but there were no dropouts and the number of completed beeps was comparable to that in other studies. Multilevel analysis showed that feelings and symptoms were significant predictors of momentary HRQOL. The strength of these relations differed among three patient groups and a population-based sample. The EuroQol visual analogue scale was not predicted by momentary feelings and symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can conclude that the use of the ESM to measure accounts of the momentary experience of health in different populations is feasible. Retrospective measures may provide a biased account of the impact of health problems in the daily lives of people who are affected. Moreover, the bias may be different in different conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: iris.nowak.maes@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Iris H L
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Mondriaan Mental Health Care Trust, South Limburg, The Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Philippe A E G
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Delespaul
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Madelon L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Mathew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands; School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van Horn
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Academic Anxiety Center, Mondriaan/PsyQ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schruers
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Audiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lucien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Anteunis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: experience sampling method; health-related quality of life; preferences; utility measurement