Health Professionals’ Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Values for Oral Clefting by Age Using a Visual Analogue Scale Method

George L Wehby; Robert L Ohsfeldt; Jeffrey C Murray

doi:10.1597/05-066.1

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Health Professionals’ Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Values for Oral Clefting by Age Using a Visual Analogue Scale Method

Journal article

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Health Professionals’ Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Values for Oral Clefting by Age Using a Visual Analogue Scale Method

George L Wehby, Robert L Ohsfeldt and Jeffrey C Murray

The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal, Vol.43(4), pp.383-391

07/2006

DOI: 10.1597/05-066.1

PMCID: PMC1656951

PMID: 16854194

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Abstract

Objective: To elicit health-related quality of life (HRQL) values associated with oral clefting by age using a visual analogue scale, and to explore the appropriateness of using health professionals as evaluators. Methods: A representative group of health professionals working on craniofacial and/or cleft palate teams in the United States was sampled. Values (between 0 and 1) representing the HRQL associated with isolated and nonisolated oral clefting for infants, children, adolescents, and adults were obtained. The relationships between selected evaluator characteristics and values were also assessed. Results: Of 330 professionals surveyed, 133 (40%) completed and returned reliable evaluations. Overall, HRQL values were clustered toward the right tail of the scale, indicating modest decreases in HRQL. Most evaluators reported feeling confident in completing the evaluations. HRQL values seemed to vary by team type (cleft palate only versus cleft palate/craniofacial care) and geographic location, but no major differences were found overall for any selected evaluator characteristics. Conclusions: This study provides HRQL values for oral clefting based on preferences of health professionals that may be useful in evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies, including those carried out in clinical trial studies. The clustered pattern of HRQL values suggests either a consensus among evaluators of a limited burden of oral clefting or an overall lack of understanding of the evaluation task.

quality-adjusted life years

cleft lip

visual analogue scale

oral clefting

cost effectiveness

cleft palate

health utilities

health-related quality of life

health values

cost utility

Details

Title: Subtitle: Health Professionals’ Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Values for Oral Clefting by Age Using a Visual Analogue Scale Method
Creators: George L Wehby - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Robert L Ohsfeldt - Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Jeffrey C Murray - Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal, Vol.43(4), pp.383-391
DOI: 10.1597/05-066.1
PMID: 16854194
PMCID: PMC1656951
NLM abbreviation: Cleft Palate Craniofac J
ISSN: 1055-6656
eISSN: 1545-1569
Language: English
Date published: 07/2006
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Anatomy and Cell Biology; Health Management and Policy; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Economics; Pediatric Dentistry; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984025301302771

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