EuroQol

EuroQol is a research organization that focuses on the development and dissemination of instruments to measure health-related quality of life. The most notable product of EuroQol is the EQ-5D, a standardized instrument used as a measure of health outcome.

History

EuroQol was established in 1987 by a group of researchers from various countries who were interested in creating a standardized measure for health-related quality of life. The organization has since grown and now includes members from a wide range of disciplines and countries.

EQ-5D

The EQ-5D is a widely used instrument for measuring health-related quality of life. It consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has three levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems. The VAS records the respondent's self-rated health on a vertical, visual analogue scale where the endpoints are labeled 'Best imaginable health state' and 'Worst imaginable health state'.

Applications

The EQ-5D is used in a variety of settings, including clinical trials, population health surveys, and routine outcome measurement in healthcare. It is also used in health economic evaluations to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Related Pages

• Health-related quality of life
• Quality-adjusted life year
• Health economics
• Clinical trial
• Population health