Abstract
PurposeTo measure utilities among cancer patients, a cancer-specific utility instrument called the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLU-C10D has been developed based on EORTC quality of life core module (QLQ-C30). This study aimed to provide Dutch utility weights for the QLU-C10D.MethodsA cross-sectional valuation study was performed in 1017 participants representative in age and gender of the Dutch general population. The valuation method was a discrete choice experiment containing 960 choice sets, i.e. pairs of QLU-C10D health states, each health state described in terms of the 10 QLU-C10D domains and the duration of that health state. Each participant considered 16 choice sets, choosing their preferred health state from each pair. Utility scores were derived using generalized estimation equation models. Non-monotonic levels were combined.ResultsUtility decrements were generated for all 10 QLU-C10D domains, with largest decrements for pain (− 0.242), physical functioning (− 0.228), and role functioning (− 0.149). Non-monotonic levels of emotional functioning, pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and appetite loss were combined. No decrement in utility was seen in case of a little or quite a bit impairment in emotional functioning or a little pain. The mean QLU-C10D utility score of the participants was 0.85 (median = 0.91, interquartile range = 0.82 to 0.96).ConclusionDutch utility decrements were generated for the QLU-C10D. These are important for evaluating the cost-utility of new cancer treatments and supportive care interventions. Further insight is warranted into the added value of the QLU-C10D alongside other utility instruments.
Highlights
Current cancer care increasingly asks for economic evaluations to assess whether new cancer treatments or supportive care interventions are cost-effective and should be implemented [1, 2]
A commonly used economic evaluation technique is cost-utility analysis, in which the difference in total costs between two or more interventions is compared to the difference in utilities by means of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) [1]
The quality component of QALYs can be measured using different techniques, one of which is the use of generic utility measures, such as the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) [5, 6] or the Short-Form 6 Dimensions (SF-6D) [7]
Summary
Current cancer care increasingly asks for economic evaluations to assess whether new cancer treatments or supportive care interventions are cost-effective and should be implemented [1, 2]. To measure utilities among cancer patients, a cancer-specific utility instrument has been developed based on the widely used European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life core module (EORTC QLQ-C30) [8] called the EORTC Quality of Life Utility Core 10 Dimensions (EORTC QLU-C10D) [9]. This EORTC QLUC10D instrument consists of 13 of the 30 items and focuses on 10 of the 15 EORTC QLQ-C30 domains, including four functioning domains (i.e. physical, emotional, social, and role functioning) and six symptom domains (i.e. pain, fatigue, sleep problems, appetite loss, nausea, and bowel problems)
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