Quality of Life in Oporto and South of Douro Region – Comparison of EQ-5D and SF-36 Introdução à Medicina Turma 6 – 2006/2007

Difficult to define Multidimensional:  Subjective  Objective Not a static definition – varies with time and from person to person. Quantifying QoL – important to improve populations’ well being. What is Quality of Life (QoL)? Jenney M, Campbell S. Measuring quality of life. Arch. Dis. Child. 1997; 77: Clinical Rehabilitation, 2003; 17: Research in Developmental Disabilities. 1995, 16 (1);

EQ-5D

SF-36

Objectives Primary objective –Quantify the Health Related-Quality of Life (HR-QoL) of the adult population in Oporto and South of Douro region. –Compare measurement scales and subscales and analyse the agreement between two broadly used HR-QoL generic instruments – EQ-5D and SF-36. Secondary objectives –Compare results between groups: Age Sex

Methods Random choice of 478 residences from the “Oporto and South of Douro” phonebook

Methods – Pilot Study Test the adopted method and improve it Questionnaires + 4 additional questions about the viability of the study sent to 30 residences No difficulties filling the questionnaires

Methods – Final Study Different techniques were adopted to maximize the response rates in the final study: → Make the questionnaire more personal and attractive Pilot StudyFinal Study

→ A bookmark was sent inside the letters to act as an incentive → A reminder note was sent with the second letters Methods – Final Study BookmarkReminder Note

Response rate

Time of answer

Sociodemographic data

Age

Questionnaire order: Chi-square test

EQ-5D: Response by items

SF-36: Response by items PF RP RE PF – physical functioning RP – role limitations due to physical health RE – role limitations due to emotional problems

EQ-5D index and VAS

EQ-5D: 5 Dimensions

EQ-5D results

SF-36 domains PF – physical functioning RP – role limitations due to physical health RE – role limitations due to emotional problems EF – energy/fatigue EW – emotional well-being SF – social functioning P – pain GH – general health

Female Male Gender Mean EQ-5D: independent samples T-test

PF – physical functioning RP – role limitations due to physical health RE – role limitations due to emotional problems EF – energy/fatigue EW – emotional well-being SF – social functioning P – pain GH – general health Female Male Gender * * by Independent samples t test: p<0.05 Mean * SF-36: independent samples T-test

* * by OneWay ANOVA: p< ≥ 65 Mean * Age Categories EQ-5D: OneWay ANOVA

PF – physical functioning RP – role limitations due to physical health RE – role limitations due to emotional problems EF – energy/fatigue EW – emotional well-being SF – social functioning P – pain GH – general health ≥ 65 Age Categories * * by OneWay ANOVA: p<0.05 Mean * SF-36: OneWay ANOVA

* * by Independent samples t test: p<0.05 No Yes Have/had a serious disease? Mean * EQ-5D: independent samples T-test

PF – physical functioning RP – role limitations due to physical health RE – role limitations due to emotional problems EF – energy/fatigue EW – emotional well-being SF – social functioning P – pain GH – general health No Yes Have/had a serious disease? * * by Independent samples t test: p<0.05 Mean * SF-36: independent samples T-test

Correlations

Scatters

Discussion – Method’s limitations Mail surveys: –Often low response rates –People might be unable to answer some questions Sample selection: –Inhabitants without telephone, or whose phone number is not listed will not be contemplated –The phonebook may be outdated or even lack address information

Discussion – Other limitations Quality of Life: –Vast definition –Not objective –Difficult to measure –Varies with: Time Place Personal expectations

Discussion a: Quality of Life Research, 1998; 7: b: Quality of Life Research, 2005; 14: c: Quality of Life Research, 2005; 14: d: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2006; 4: 47 e: Quality of Life Research, 1998; 7:

Discussion

Conclusions It was possible to quantify HR-QoL in the Oporto and South of Douro region using EQ-5D and SF-36. The scales and subscales of both instruments are strongly correlated. HR-QoL has little statistically significant differences between genders. Statistically significant differences were found between age categories and health conditions.

THE END