Academia

BACKGROUND:

As part of the Affordable Care Act, health utility metrics are being investigated to define a cost-effective, value-based health care model. EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) and Short Form-6D (SF-6D) are commonly used quality-of-life instruments. Domains in the EQ-5D questionnaire are thought to be less responsive in measuring quality of life after cervical surgery.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the validity and responsiveness of SF-6D and EQ-5D in determining health and quality of life after elective cervical spine surgery.

CONCLUSION:

SF-6D is a more valid and responsive measure of general health and quality of life compared with EQ-5D. SF-6D derived from disease-specific disability scores was more valid and responsive than that derived from the generic preference-based SF-12. Cost-effective studies should use SF-6D as a measure of QALY after cervical spine surgery.

ABBREVIATIONS:

AP, arm painAUC, area under the curveEQ-5D, EuroQol-5DNDI, Neck Disability IndexNP, neck painNRS, Numeric Rating ScalePCS, Physical Component ScorePRO, patient-reported outcomeQALY, quality-adjusted life yearROC, receiver-operating characteristicSF-6D, Short-Form 6DSF-12, Short Form 12SRM, standardized response mean.