EORTC Quality of Life Utility – Core 10 Dimensions (QLU-C10D)
Measuring and valuing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments can broadly be divided into two groups, profile measures and preference-based measures (PBMs). The two types of instruments represent two different approaches to HRQoL assessment, namely measuring versus valuing health. They serve different research purposes – while HRQoL profile measures, such as the EORTC QLQ-C30 and its modules, deliver HRQoL outcomes in clinical research, health economics research relies on PBMs for HRQoL information. The EORTC Quality of Life Utility – Core 10 Dimensions (QLU-C10D) is a PBM which can be directly scored from the items of the QLQ-C30, i.e. it is a preference-based scoring algorithm that allows using information from the QLQ-C30 as both, a HRQoL profile for clinical research questions and a PBM for health economic research. Preference-based (or utility) scoring is usually done from a societal perspective, i.e. the values assigned to health states are derived from the general population of the country where health costs arise for the society.
The QLU-C10D has been developed by the Multi-attribute utility in Cancer (MauCa) consortium in collaboration with the EORTC QLG.
The QLU-C10D user manual will provide some theoretical background on this different measurement concepts, with detailed information and guidance on the proper legal and scientific use of the EORTC QLU-C10D, including different modes of administration, scoring procedures, and results reporting.
The manual will be available on this page soon.