Abstract
Objective: To compare the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) and the Short Form-6D (SF-6D) utility scores in family caregivers (FCs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.Method: This study was performed on FCs of CRC patients from three primary cancer centers in the capital city of the Heilongjiang province. The participants (FCs) who were enrolled, filled the EQ-5D-3L, along with the SF-6D questionnaire. Two tools were compared for their distribution, discriminant validity, agreement, and convergent validity along with known-groups validity.Result: Two hundred ninety-two FCs of CRC patients were enrolled. The score distribution of the SF-6D along with the EQ-5D-3L were not normal. A ceiling impact was seen in 31.8% of the FCs for EQ-5D-3L; however, none for the SF-6D. Good associations (Spearman’s rho = 0.622, p < 0.01) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 0.637 and average ICC 0.778) between the two scores were observed. The EQ-5D-3L yielded higher utility scores in contrast with the SF-6D in the better health subclass. The SF-6D distinguished better between excellent and good health statuses, with better effect size and relative efficiency statistics. Both tools showed good known-groups validity.Conclusion: The utility scores of SF-6D were remarkably lower relative to that of the EQ-5D-3L, but the difference may be clinically insignificant. However, the SF-6D may be superior because of the lack of ceiling impact. SF-6D exhibited a better convergent validity along with discrimination validity of excellent health condition and improved known-groups validity efficiency.
Highlights
The global prevalence and deaths due to colorectal cancer (CRC) have been on the rise [1]
Some hitherto research studies have adopted generic tools, for instance the SF-36 Health Survey Instrument, for evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the family caregivers (FCs) [5]. These investigations documented that FCs of individuals with cancer have remarkably worst psychological and social influences in contrast with others, they cannot be transformed into a single health utility score
The FCs exhibited an average experience of 4.2 months (SD = 9.8) of caring for the individuals with CRC, and they averagely spent 18.2 h (SD = 7.6)/day
Summary
The global prevalence and deaths due to colorectal cancer (CRC) have been on the rise [1]. Some hitherto research studies have adopted generic tools, for instance the SF-36 Health Survey Instrument, for evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the FCs [5]. These investigations documented that FCs of individuals with cancer have remarkably worst psychological and social influences in contrast with others, they cannot be transformed into a single health utility score. Indirect HRQoL determinants, for instance the Short Form-6D (SF-6D) along with the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L), are usually employed to derive health condition values for computing QALY Both instruments employ a distinct descriptive or classification approach to categorize diverse health conditions [8, 9]. A health utility score of 1 indicates a condition of perfect health, whilst a utility score of 0 indicates being dead
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