title: Development of the web-based Spanish and Catalan versions of the Euroqol 5D-Y (EQ-5D-Y) and comparison of results with the paper version.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of the study were to develop web-based Spanish and Catalan versions of the EQ-5D-Y, and to compare scores and psychometric properties with the paper version.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based and paper versions of EQ-5D-Y were included in a cross-sectional study in Palafolls (Barcelona), Spain and administered to students (n = 923) aged 8 to 18 years from 2 primary and 1 secondary school and their parents. All students completed both the web-based and paper versions during school time with an interval of at least 2 h between administrations. The order of administration was randomized. Participants completed EQ-5D-Y, a measure of mental health status (the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), and sociodemographic variables using a self-administered questionnaire. Parents questionnaire included parental level of education and presence of chronic conditions in children. Missing values, and floor and ceiling effects were compared between versions. Mean score differences were computed for the visual analogue scale (VAS). Percentage of agreement, kappa index (k) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were computed to analyze the level of agreement between web-based and paper versions on EQ-5D-Y dimensions and VAS. Known groups validity was analyzed and compared between the two formats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation rate was 77 % (n = 715). Both formats of EQ-5D-Y showed low percentages of missing values (n = 2, and 4 to 9 for web and paper versions respectively), and a high ceiling effect by dimension (range from 79 % to 96 %). Percent agreement for EQ-5D-Y dimensions on the web and paper versions was acceptable (range 89 % to 97 %), and k ranged from 0.55 (0.48-0.61, usual activities dimension) to 0.75 (0.68-0.82, mobility dimension). Mean score difference on the VAS was 0.07, and the ICC for VAS scores on the two formats was 0.84 (0.82-0.86). Both formats showed acceptable ability to discriminate according to self-perceived health, reporting chronic conditions, and mental health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The digital EQ-5D-Y showed almost identical VAS scores and acceptable levels of agreement on dimensions. Both formats demonstrated acceptable levels of construct validity. Availability of the Spanish and Catalan web-version will facilitate its use in HRQOL assessment and in economic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya (AQuAS), Roc Boronat 81-95 2nd Floor, Barcelona, 08005, Spain.|Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya (AQuAS), Roc Boronat 81-95 2nd Floor, Barcelona, 08005, Spain. lrajmil@gencat.cat.|IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar de Recerca Biomèdica), Barcelona, Spain. lrajmil@gencat.cat.|Centro de Investigación Epidemiológica en Red (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. lrajmil@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajmil
authors.affiliation: Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya (AQuAS), Roc Boronat 81-95 2nd Floor, Barcelona, 08005, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Arjona
authors.affiliation: Corporació de Salut del Maresme i la Selva, Calella, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azuara
authors.affiliation: Corporació de Salut del Maresme i la Selva, Calella, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Codina
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raat
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ravens-Sieberer
authors.affiliation: Office of Health Economics, London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herdman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010209:Paper; D010290:Parents; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale