Views of the UK General Public on Important Aspects of Health Not Captured by EQ-5D

Introduction The EQ-5D is a standardised instrument designed for use as a generic measure of health outcome. It was (and is) intended to provide information about a ‘common core’ of dimensions known to be relevant across a range of conditions; however, the five dimensions may not fully capture the health-related impacts of certain conditions. This study analyses the views of the UK general public about important aspects of health considered to be missing from the instrument. Methods Survey respondents were asked whether there are any aspects of health they consider to be important but are not captured by the EQ-5D, and, if so, what these aspects are. The responses (text comments) were analysed using content analysis with analyst triangulation. Data were collected from a broadly representative sample of the general public via a paper questionnaire administered as part of face-to-face interviews. Results Data are available for 436 respondents, 179 of whom suggested aspects of health they considered important but not captured by the five EQ-5D dimensions. These were organised into 22 themes. Sensory deprivation and mental health were the health aspects most commonly mentioned by respondents. Conclusions Respondents identified several important aspects of health that are not covered by the EQ-5D descriptive system. This study can provide the basis for more detailed qualitative and quantitative research—in particular to examine the views of different patient groups—to inform further review of the EQ-5D descriptive system. The results also have implications for the sensitivity of other generic measures.