Abstract
BackgroundMedical students gain a particular perspective on health problems during their medical education. This article describes how medical students value 10 hypothetical health states using the EQ-5D compared to the general population.MethodsBased on a sample of 161 medical students (male: 41%) we compared valuations of 10 hypothetical EQ-5D health states collected in face to face interviews with the valuations of the general population. Self-reported health on the EQ-5D was also collected.ResultsEvery third health state was valuated higher by the medical students compared to data of the general population. The differences were independent of the severity of the hypothetical health state. Concerning the self-reported health, the majority of the students (66%) reported no problems in the five EQ-5D domains (EQ-5D VAS M = 87.3 ± 9.6 SD). However, when compared to an age-matched sample the medical students show significantly more problems in the area of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.ConclusionMedical students have a tendency to value health states higher than the general public. Medical professionals should be continuously aware that their assessment of the patients health state can differ from the valuations of the general population.
Highlights
Medical students gain a particular perspective on health problems during their medical education
Medical professionals should be continuously aware that their assessment of the patients health state can differ from the valuations of the general population
Medical decision-making relies heavily on the value attached to a specific health state by patients, health care professionals or the general public
Summary
Medical students gain a particular perspective on health problems during their medical education. This article describes how medical students value 10 hypothetical health states using the EQ-5D compared to the general population. The assignment of preferences to certain health states is a critical and controversial topic. This is especially true when it comes to valuing our own health in contrast to valuing health of others. In any case people refer to the salient and most important aspects of their own lives to value health states. These valuations can be implicit or explicit, they always exist. In a recent European survey on the acceptance of quality of life measurement between 72–90% of the physicians accepted quality of life (QoL) as an outcome measure, with less than 50% accepting the concept of quality adjusted life years
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