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Personality and EQ-5D scores among individuals with chronic conditions

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Abstract

Background

Personality is associated with self-rated health, but prior studies have not examined associations with preference-based measures. We hypothesized similar associations would exist with preference-based health.

Methods

We analyzed baseline data from chronically ill individuals enrolled in a self-management intervention. We conducted regression analyses with the EQ-5D summary index score and dimension scores (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) as dependent variables, The key independent variables were NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) personality factors (Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness), adjusting for age, gender, educational level, minority status, and chronic conditions.

Results

Of 415 participants, 245 (59%) had ≥2 chronic conditions, 384 (94%) completed the NEO-FFI and 397 (96%) the EQ-5D. After adjustment, Neuroticism was associated with EQ-5D summary index scores [−0.04 per 1 SD increase in Neuroticism (95% CI −0.06, −0.01)]. Neuroticism [AOR 2.99 (95% CI 2.06, 4.35; P < 0.001)] and Openness [1.32 (95% CI 1.00, 1.75; P = 0.05)] were associated with worse anxiety/depression scores, while Conscientiousness was associated with better usual activities scores [0.66 (95% CI 0.49, 0.89; P = 0.01)].

Conclusions

The associations between personality factors and self-rated health appear to extend to preference-based measures. Future studies should explore whether personality affects preference-based health estimates in cost-effectiveness analyses.

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Abbreviations

CDSMP:

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

CEA:

Cost-effectiveness analysis

CES-D:

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale

CI:

Confidence interval

CLAD:

Censored least absolute deviations

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

FFM:

Five Factor Model

HAQ:

Health Assessment Questionnaire

HIOH:

Homing in on Health

MCID:

Minimal clinically important difference

NEO-FFI:

Neo-Five Factor Inventory

OLS:

Ordinary least squares

QALY:

Quality-adjusted life-year

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

SD :

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded in part by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant number R01HS013603 and National Institute of Health grants number T32 MH073452 and K24MH072712.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4860 Y Street, Suite 2300, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Anthony Jerant

  2. Laboratory of Personality and Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Benjamin P. Chapman

  3. Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Peter Franks

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Jerant, A., Chapman, B.P. & Franks, P. Personality and EQ-5D scores among individuals with chronic conditions. Qual Life Res 17, 1195–1204 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9401-y

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