Valuing the EQ Health and Wellbeing Short (EQ-HWB-S) using time trade-off and a discrete choice experiment: a feasibility study

Background The EQ Health and Wellbeing Short (EQ-HWB-S) is a new generic measure that covers health and wellbeing developed for use in economic evaluation in health and social care.

Objective The aim was to test the feasibility of using composite time trade-off (cTTO) and a discrete choice experiment (DCE) based on an international protocol to derive utilities for the EQ-HWB-S and to generate a pilot value set.

Methods A representative UK general population was recruited. Online videoconference interviews were undertaken where cTTO and DCE tasks were administered using EuroQol Portable Valuation Technology. Quality control (QC) was used to assess interviewers’ performance. Data were modelled using Tobit, probit and hybrid models. Feasibility was assessed based on the distribution of data, participant and interviewer reports of understanding, QC and modelling results.

Results CTTO and DCE data were available for 520 participants. Demographic characteristics were broadly representative of the UK general population. Interviewers met QC requirements. cTTO values ranged between -1 to 1 with increasing disutility associated with more severe states. Participants understood the tasks and the EQ-HWB-S states and interviewers reported high levels of understanding and engagement. The hybrid Tobit heteroscedastic model was selected for the pilot value set with values ranging from -0.384 to 1. Pain, mobility, daily activities, sad/depressed had the largest disutilities followed by loneliness, anxiety, exhaustion, control and cognition in the selected model.

Conclusions EQ-HWB-S can be valued using cTTO and DCE. Further methodological work is recommended to develop a valuation protocol specific to the EQ-HWB-S.