title: Is the EQ-5D suitable for use in oncology? An overview of the literature and recent developments.
abstract: The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire is widely used in oncology to generate quality of life weights (utilities). The typical purpose is to inform health economic evaluation studies. The EQ-5D is generally suitable for this purpose; it has shown a reasonable degree of reliability, content validity, construct validity and responsiveness in the majority of the available studies. In situations of doubt, combination with other quality-of-life instruments may be an option. The authors expect that the five-level version of the EQ-5D will gradually replace the three-level version, due to reduced ceiling effects and more appropriate responsiveness. Further research should address the benefits achievable through additional dimensions or patient-based valuation, and the validity of EQ-5D versions for proxy respondents.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM) , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute , University of Zürich , Zürich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwenkglenks
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM) , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|c Network Outcomes Research , Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research Coordination Center , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Klazien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matter-Walstra
mesh_terms: D004470:Economics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: EQ-5D; Health economics; neoplasms; oncology; quality of life; quality-adjusted life year