Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The EQ-5D-Y instrument is currently used to assess health-related quality of life of health states experienced by young populations. However, a country-specific EQ-5D-Y value set for Hong Kong (HK) is not yet available. The study aimed to develop an HK-specific value set for the EQ-5D-Y, following the valuation proposal recommended by the EuroQol Group. METHODS: The study included a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) exercise to estimate the relative importance of each level within the five dimensions of the EQ-5D-Y. A composite Time-Trade Off (C-TTO) was also conducted to anchor the latent scale derived from the DCE to the quality-adjusted life years (QALY) 0–1 scale. Both tasks were administered using the EQ-PVT platform. Responses were collected from adults in the general population, who completed the elicitation tasks from a child’s perspective. RESULTS: A total of 1,001 adult participants responded for the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), while 205 adults completed the Composite Time Trade-Off (C-TTO) tasks. The sample was representative of the general Chinese population in HK in terms of age, sex, and geographical distribution. Among the five EQ-5D-Y dimensions, the most influential in determining health state preferences was pain/discomfort, followed by feeling worried, sad, or unhappy; performing usual activities; mobility; and self-care. CONCLUSION: This study presents an EQ-5D-Y-3 L value set for the HK Chinese young population, following the international valuation protocol of this instrument. This value set enables future use of the EQ-5D-Y-3 L for measuring health-related quality of life and conducting economic evaluation for children and adolescents.