ABSTRACT
The EQ-5D has been shown to be a practical method of measuring a population’s health, and of distinguishing sub-groups within it. The instrument has recently been used in two randomised controlled trials, in one to measure hrqol after angioplasty and stent replacement, and in another to compare the effectiveness of patient care in hospital and at home. C. Donaldson et al express concerns that the adoption of Rosser-Kind values would discriminate against procedures which deliver only small increments of hrqol. Suppose a minor low-cost intervention improves hrqol by an amount which is undetectable by the Rosser-Kind measure, amounting to 0.02 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The main value of the Rosser-Kind QALY is as a measure of hrqol from a social viewpoint. The EQ-5D appears to be gaining acceptance as a QALY measure, as a consequence of its extensive and thorough testing for validity and reliability.
