EQ-5D as a Generic Measure of Health-Related Quality of Life in Israel: Reliability, Validity and Responsiveness

Background The European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions questionnaire is one of the most commonly used measures of health related quality of life Objectives To present the feasibility reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the EQ 5D Methods We conducted face to face interviews with a representative sample (n=1666) of the Israeli Jewish population The data collected included demographic and medical information, and self valuation of health using the EQ 5D descriptive system, Visual Analogue Scale and Time Trade Off Construct validity was assessed by assuming that older individuals, those with a greater burden of diseases, and those reporting experience with their own severe illness would have lower EQ 5D indexes, VAS and TTO values Test retest reliability was assessed in a small sample (n=50) that was reevaluated after a 3 week interval Results Test retest reliability of the EQ 5D and VAS was very high (r >= 0 85) Reliability of the TTO was moderate (r = 0 48) There were significant differences in the EQ 5D index, profiles VAS and TTO between healthy and sick respondents and younger and older respondents, indicating good validity of the instrument Conclusions The Hebrew translation of the EQ 5D is a practical, reliable and valid instrument for assessing the health related quality of life of the general Israeli Jewish population IMAJ2010 12 715-720