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SF-6D Portuguese population norms

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Abstract

Background

Population-based norms are important because they provide benchmarks that allow the interpretation of subgroups of population health, comparisons between studies, information on health inequalities and support for health-care interventions. The SF-6D is a preference-based measure of health, the use of which has been increasing throughout the world.

Objective

Other countries have provided population norms for the SF-6D. To date, SF-6D population norms for Portugal do not exist. This study therefore aimed to derive SF-6D Portuguese population norms.

Methods

A representative sample of the Portuguese general public (n = 1,500) was used in a telephone-based interview. The SF-36v2 was applied and the Portuguese SF-6D value set was used to obtain the SF-6D index. Descriptive and inferential data analyses were applied to sociodemographic variables, the dimensions of the SF-6D and the SF-6D index. Health index scores of the target population and selected subpopulations were estimated using domain estimation techniques when necessary.

Results

SF-6D utility scores decline with increasing age. Women, widowed individuals and individuals with low educational attainment report lower levels of SF-6D utility scores than men, those with a high educational attainment and those who are single.

Conclusions

This study reports Portuguese population norms measured using the SF-6D based on a national representative sample. These results can be used as reference data to inform policy.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions which have considerably improved an earlier version of the article. This study was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (research grant PTDC/SAUEPI/115151/2009). We also thank the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for financing our research centres.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro L. Ferreira

  2. School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Lara N. Ferreira & Luis N. Pereira

  3. Centre for Health Studies and Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro L. Ferreira & Lara N. Ferreira

  4. Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of the Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Luis N. Pereira

Authors
  1. Pedro L. Ferreira
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  2. Lara N. Ferreira
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  3. Luis N. Pereira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lara N. Ferreira.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 4.

Table 4 Distribution of estimates of the relative frequencies of the dimensions of the SF-6D by gender and age group (%)
Full size table

Appendix 2

See Table 5.

Table 5 Distribution of estimates of the relative frequencies of the dimensions of the SF-6D by educational attainment (%)
Full size table

Appendix 3

See Table 6.

Table 6 Distribution of estimates of the relative frequencies of the dimensions of the SF-6D by marital status and having, or not, a chronic disease (%)
Full size table

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Ferreira, P.L., Ferreira, L.N. & Pereira, L.N. SF-6D Portuguese population norms. Eur J Health Econ 16, 235–241 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-014-0568-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-014-0568-6

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