Plain English Summary

This project is looking at different topics in the area of measuring and valuing health, so that we can develop larger project proposals that are appropriate and feasible. The project is looking at the following topics:

1. Measuring health for vulnerable patients. Health of patients is normally measured using one questionnaire, EQ-5D, when the results are being used to inform an economic evaluation of different treatments and health care. This questionnaire has the advantage that it is appropriate for most patients and conditions. However, we are looking at  whether this questionnaire and others like it are appropriate for people who are at the end of their life and people with dementia.

2. Child and adolescent health. There are widely accepted and recommended questionnaires used to measure and value the health of adults, but this is not the case for the health of children and adolescents. We are looking in more detail about how to measure and value the health of children and adolescents to inform an economic evaluation of different treatments and health care. 

3. Valuing health. Questionnaires used to measure people’s health are scored using preferences when they are used to inform an economic evaluation of different treatments and health care. We are looking at the most recently used methods used to obtain these preferences, and the quality of the evidence they provide.

4. Hope. Some researchers have suggested that ‘hope’ should be included in economic evaluation of different treatments and health care. We are looking at the evidence for this suggestion to critically examine it.