Organisation/institution: CHEME,Bangor University, SCHE, Swansea University, and School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield
Key contact: Dr Nathan Bray, CHEME, Bangor University, n.bray@bangor.ac.uk
What was the question that we could help with?
An EQ‑5D‑5L value set for England was published by Devlin et al in 2018. However NICE’s current position is that this value set should not be used. This is following independent quality assurance (Hernandez Alava et al, 2018) and reports from 4 independent experts, which raised concerns about the quality and reliability of the data collected in the valuation study, and the methods used to model these data. In light of this, the new EQ-5D-5L valuation study for the UK was commissioned.
What did we do?
The research team for the new EQ-5D-5L valuation study has been finalised, and includes 4 representatives from Health and Care Economics Cymru: Dr Nathan Bray, Professor Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, Professor Deb Fitzsimmons and Professor Dyfrig Hughes. The UK-wide team will be led by Dr Donna Rowen (School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield) and was carefully selected by the project’s Steering Group to ensure regional coverage for the study.
The newly appointed research team have started working on the study protocol, supported by the international valuation study protocol (EQ-VT) support team from the EuroQol Research Foundation. Independent Quality Control will be built in at every stage, with reviews taking place at every study milestone. Data collection is expected to begin in 2021.
What is the expected impact?
The new EQ-5D-5L valuation study will provide a UK value set for the EQ-5D-5L. The value set will provide values (weights) for EQ-5D-5L health state descriptions according to the preferences of the UK general population. These are used in the calculation of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) that inform economic evaluations of healthcare interventions.
Representation of Wales and the Welsh population has been specifically built into this project through the selection of a Welsh study site (led by Dr Nathan Bray). Representatives from HCEC will be involved at all stages of planning and conducting the research, and will undertake data collection in Wales. There are likely to be a number of high impact publications from this study, and the results will have a direct influence on NICE recommendations relating to QALY calculation and outcome measure development.
