Eva Rodríguez-Míguez1, Jacinto Mosquera Nogueira2. 1. Department of Applied Economics, University of Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain. Electronic address: emiguez@uvigo.es. 2. Galician Health Service, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the intangible effects of alcohol misuse on the drinker's quality of life, based on general population preferences METHODS: The most important effects (dimensions) were identified by means of two focus groups conducted with patients and specialists. The levels of these dimensions were combined to yield different scenarios. A sample of 300 people taken from the general Spanish population evaluated a subset of these scenarios, selected by using a fractional factorial design. We used the probability lottery equivalent method to derive the utility score for the evaluated scenarios, and the random-effects regression model to estimate the relative importance of each dimension and to derive the utility score for the rest of scenarios not directly evaluated. RESULTS: Four main dimensions were identified (family, physical health, psychological health and social) and divided into three levels of intensity. We found a wide variation in the utilities associated with the scenarios directly evaluated (ranging from 0.09 to 0.78). The dimensions with the greatest relative importance were physical health (36.4%) and family consequences (31.3%), followed by psychological (20.5%) and social consequences (11.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the benefits of adopting a heterogeneous approach to measure the effects of alcohol misuse. The estimated utilities could have both clinical and economic applications.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the intangible effects of alcohol misuse on the drinker's quality of life, based on general population preferences METHODS: The most important effects (dimensions) were identified by means of two focus groups conducted with patients and specialists. The levels of these dimensions were combined to yield different scenarios. A sample of 300 people taken from the general Spanish population evaluated a subset of these scenarios, selected by using a fractional factorial design. We used the probability lottery equivalent method to derive the utility score for the evaluated scenarios, and the random-effects regression model to estimate the relative importance of each dimension and to derive the utility score for the rest of scenarios not directly evaluated. RESULTS: Four main dimensions were identified (family, physical health, psychological health and social) and divided into three levels of intensity. We found a wide variation in the utilities associated with the scenarios directly evaluated (ranging from 0.09 to 0.78). The dimensions with the greatest relative importance were physical health (36.4%) and family consequences (31.3%), followed by psychological (20.5%) and social consequences (11.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the benefits of adopting a heterogeneous approach to measure the effects of alcohol misuse. The estimated utilities could have both clinical and economic applications.
Keywords:
Alcohol-related disorders; Alcoholism; Alcoholismo; Años de vida ajustados por calidad; Calidad de vida; Focus groups; Grupos focales; Quality of life; Quality-adjusted life years; Trastornos relacionados con el alcohol
Authors: Juan M Ramírez-Ubillus; Martín A Vilela-Estrada; Shirley A Herrera-Arce; Estefany Mejía-Morales; Christian R Mejia Journal: F1000Res Date: 2017-07-28