EQ-5D-Y-5L: developing a revised EQ-5D-Y with increased response categories.

Kreimeier S, Astrom M, Burstrom K, et al. EQ-5D-Y-5L: developing a revised EQ-5D-Y with increased response categories. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation. 2019;28(7):1951-1961.PURPOSE: EQ-5D-Y is a generic measure of health status for children and adolescents aged 8-15 years. Originally, it has three levels of severity in each dimension (3L). This study aimed to develop a descriptive system of EQ-5D-Y with an increased number of severity levels and to test comprehensibility and feasibility. METHODS: The study was conducted in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK. In Phase 1, a review of existing instruments and focus group interviews were carried out to create a pool of possible labels for a modified severity classification. Participants aged 8-15 rated the severity of the identified labels in individual sorting and response scaling interviews. In Phase 2, preliminary 4L and 5L versions were constructed for further testing in cognitive interviews with healthy participants aged 8-15 years and children receiving treatment for a health condition. RESULTS: In Phase 1, a total of 233 labels was generated, ranging from 37 (UK) to 79 labels (Germany). Out of these, 7 to 16 possible labels for each dimension in the different languages were rated in 255 sorting and response scaling interviews. Labels covered an appropriate range of severity on the health continuum in all countries. In Phase 2, the 5L version was generally preferred (by 68-88% of the participants per country) over the 4L version. CONCLUSIONS: This multinational study has provided a version of the EQ-5D-Y with 5 severity levels in each dimension. This extended version (EQ-5D-Y-5L) requires testing its psychometric properties and its performance compared to that of the original EQ-5D-Y-3L

Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the EQ-5D-Y: results from a multinational study

Ravens-Sieberer U, Wille N, Badia X, et al. Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the EQ-5D-Y: results from a multinational study. QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH. 2010;19(6):887-897.To examine the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the newly developed EQ-5D-Y. The EQ-5D-Y was administered in population samples of children and adolescents in Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Percentages of missing values and reported problems were calculated. Test-retest reliability was determined. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients with other generic measures of HRQOL were calculated. Known groups' validity was examined by comparing groups with a priori expected differences in HRQOL. Between 91 and 100% of the respondents provided valid scorings. Sweden had the lowest proportion of reported problems (1-24.9% across EQ-5D-Y dimensions), with the highest proportions in South Africa (2.8-47.3%) and Italy (4.3-39.0%). Percentages of agreement in test-retest reliability ranged between 69.8 and 99.7% in the EQ-5D-Y dimensions; Kappa coefficients were up to 0.67. Correlation coefficients with other measures of self-rated health indicated convergent validity (up to r = -0.56). Differences between groups classified according to presence of chronic conditions, self-rated overall health and psychological problems provided preliminary evidence of known groups' validity. Results provide preliminary evidence of the instrument's feasibility, reliability and validity. Further study is required in clinical samples and for possible future applications in economic analyses

Katten också! : Exponering för pälsdjur och dess konsekvenser för pälsdjursallergiska barn

In Sweden about 40-50 % of the population has furred pets at home, primarily a cat or a dog, and about 1520% of the population is allergic to pets. Allergic symptoms may be provoked among pet allergic individuals by direct or indirect exposure to furred pets. For a number of children with allergic disease the quality of life may be impaired as a consequence of their disease. The overall aim of this thesis was to examine: 1) exposure to pet allergens in relation to keeping of furred pets and dispersion of allergens from such animals, 2) consequences of perceived allergy to furred pets in terms of keeping of such animals and 3) health-related quality of life (HRQOL) within families having a child considered by the parents to be allergic to pets. Dust samples were collected from mattresses and textile-covered floors in 70 homes and analysed by ELISA for cat allergen (Fel d 1) and dog allergen (Can f 1). Fel d 1 was found in dust from all mattresses and textilecovered floors while Can f 1 was found in all but one. The highest levels of cat and dog allergen were found in homes with a cat or dog and were significantly higher compared to such concentrations in homes of former pet-owners or homes without cats or dogs ever. In six furniture stores dust was collected from 17 factory-new mattresses, 15 used mattresses tried by customers and from another 5 factory-new mattresses vacuumed once a week the following 3 weeks. The mattress dust was analysed for content of Fel d 1 and Can f 1. The factory-new mattresses contained low levels of Fel d 1 and Can f 1, possibly due to contamination during the manufacturing. The used mattresses that had been displayed for 2-78 weeks contained high levels of Fel d 1 and Can f 1 and especially the allergen levels from cat correlated to the period of time that the mattresses had been displayed. The increase over time occurred rapidly and after 3 weeks reached concentrations similar to those that have been found in homes where furred pets previously had been kept. In the BAMSE cohort 4,089 children have been followed since birth. The parents answered questions about heredity for allergic disease, keeping of pets and questions about symptoms after contact with furred pets up to 4 years of age. Dust samples were collected from the mother's bed and analysed for concentrations of Fel d 1 and Can f 1. Cats were less often kept in families with parental pet allergy (3%) than in families without (12%). Families with smoking mothers and those with low socioeconomic status kept cats and dogs more frequently. Concentrations of Fel d 1 were lower in homes if parental allergy to pets was reported, in particular if the mother had pet allergy. Based on questionnaire data, 668 children from the BAMSE study, with or without reactions to pets, were identified at the age of 9. One hundred and thirty-one children were considered by their parents to be allergic to furred pets and a majority of these children (80%) had reactions to other allergens as well. A generic HRQOL questionnaire (CHQ-PF28) together with a disease-specific questionnaire was completed by the parents. The pet allergic children, particularly those with multiple reactions, scored significantly lower in 4 of 12 items in the CHQ-PF28 scales than the controls. The families of children with reactions to pets reported considerable restrictions in daily life and avoidance behaviors, in particular those with reactions to pollen and food as well. This thesis highlights a conflict in the society. Many people enjoy having furred animals at home, but this results in a dispersion of furred pet allergens in public environments. However, pet allergic individuals may react to indirect exposure to pets with a subsequent worsening of the disease. Pet allergic families often avoid exposure to furred pets in order to reduce the risk of symptoms of the child or other family members, but with limited success. Avoidance in combination with a reduced general health results in an impairment of the child's quality of life

Determination of crystallite shapes in polymer composites using X-ray diffraction results

A new method is discussed in this study to compute the crystallite shape in a material by considering X-ray diffraction data of a polymer composite system. Using this, one can estimate the ordered crystalline region in a material; understand its internal morphology to relate its dependence and influence on the other physical parameters. This study is carried out for HPMC:NiCl2 polymer composites of various concentrations, prepared by solution casting method

Development of the EQ-5D-Y: a child-friendly version of the EQ-5D

Wille N, Badia X, Bonsel G, et al. Development of the EQ-5D-Y: a child-friendly version of the EQ-5D. QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH. 2010;19(6):875-886.To develop a self-report version of the EQ-5D for younger respondents, named the EQ-5D-Y (Youth); to test its comprehensibility for children and adolescents and to compare results obtained using the standard adult EQ-5D and the EQ-5D-Y. An international task force revised the content of EQ-5D and wording to ensure relevance and clarity for young respondents. Children's and adolescents' understanding of the EQ-5D-Y was tested in cognitive interviews after the instrument was translated into German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. Differences between the EQ-5D and the EQ-5D-Y regarding frequencies of reported problems were investigated in Germany, Spain and South Africa. The content of the EQ-5D dimensions proved to be appropriate for the measurement of HRQOL in young respondents. The wording of the questionnaire had to be adapted which led to small changes in the meaning of some items and answer options. The adapted EQ-5D-Y was satisfactorily understood by children and adolescents in different countries. It was better accepted and proved more feasible than the EQ-5D. The administration of the EQ-5D and of the EQ-5D-Y causes differences in frequencies of reported problems. The newly developed EQ-5D-Y is a useful tool to measure HRQOL in young people in an age-appropriate manner