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A cross-sectional validation study of EQ-5D among the Malaysian adult population

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the construct validity of the EQ-5D instrument among the Malaysian population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among Malaysian adults in three northern states of Malaysia. A pre-developed questionnaire consisting of both the EQ-5D and SF-12 items was used for data collection. Concurrent, convergent, and known group validity of EQ-5D were assessed against SF-12 and several known relationships with participants’ demographic and illness characteristics.

Results

A total of 596 Malaysians participated in the study. The mean EQ-5D score was 0.93 (SD = 0.13), while the mean physical component score (PCS-12) and mental component score (MCS-12) scores were 48.9 (SD = 7.4) and 49.1 (SD = 8.0), respectively. Participants with a current medical problem had lower PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores and reported more problems with all of the EQ-5D dimensions; they also had lower EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores (P < 0.05). Convergent validity was supported by a moderately positive correlation between EQ-5D and EQ-VAS with MCS-12 and PCS-12 scores; moreover, the stronger effect sizes between PCS-12 and the physical dimensions of EQ-5D as well as between MCS-12 with anxiety/depression scores further supported the convergent validity of EQ-5D. Responses to the EQ-5D dimensions only supported two of the four known group validity hypotheses of higher quality of life among individuals who are better educated and no medical problem. No association was found between income and gender with EQ-5D score.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated acceptable construct validity of the EQ-5D among the Malaysian population.

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Abbreviations

EQ-5D:

EuroQoL-5 dimensions

EQ-VAS:

EuroQoL visual analogue Scale

HRQoL:

Health related quality of life

IQR:

Inter-quartile Range

MCS-12:

Mental component score-12 items

PCS-12:

Physical component score-12 items

SD:

Standard deviation

SF-12:

Short-Form-12 items

SF-36:

Short-Form-36 items

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the following for assisting in data collection: Brian Navaratnam, Ikrar Asril, Nadzihah Muhammad Sabri, Noradilah Ishak, Nur Syamimi Mohd Salleh, Nurul Farhana Ismail, Ong Shi Ying, Sitti Marhuma Wenne, Terence Lim Jia Jie, and Yap Wei Ting. We are also grateful for the Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University Grant (1001/PFARMASI/816114) for funding this research.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia

    Asrul Akmal Shafie, Mohamed Azmi Hassali & Siow Yen Liau

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  1. Asrul Akmal Shafie
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  2. Mohamed Azmi Hassali
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Correspondence to Asrul Akmal Shafie.

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Shafie, A.A., Hassali, M.A. & Liau, S.Y. A cross-sectional validation study of EQ-5D among the Malaysian adult population. Qual Life Res 20, 593–600 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9774-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9774-6

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