Psychometric evaluation of the Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) instrument in seven European countries

Introduction: To make efficient use of available resources, decision-makers in healthcare may assess the costs and (health) benefits of health interventions. For interventions aimed at improving mental health capturing the full health benefits is an important challenge. The Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) instrument was recently developed to meet this challenge. Evaluating the pyschometric properties of this instrument in different contexts remains important. Methods: A psychometric evaluation of the MHQoL was performed using existing international, cross-sectional data with 7155 respondents from seven European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, The Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom). Reliability was examined by calculating Cronbach’s alpha, a measure of internal consistency of the seven MHQoL dimensions, and by examining the association of the MHQoL sum scores with the MHQoL-VAS scores. Construct validity was examined by calculating Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between the MHQoL sum scores and EQ-5D index scores, EQ-VAS scores, EQ-5D anxiety/depression dimension scores, ICECAP-A index scores and PHQ-4 sum scores. Results: The MHQoL was found to have good internal consistency for all seven countries. The MHQoL sum score and the MHQoL-VAS had a high correlation. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were moderate to very high for all outcomes. Conclusion: Our results, based on data gathered in seven European countries, suggest that the MHQoL shows favourable psychometrical characteristics. While further validation remains important, the MHQoL may be a useful instrument in measuring mental health-related quality of life in the Western European context

Sectoral Innovation Watch Biotechnology Sector. Final sector report

Biotechnology has evolved from a single set of technologies in the mid 1970s into a full grown technological field that is the driving force in innovation processes in many industrial sectors (pharmaceutical, medical, agriculture, food, chemical, environment, instruments). Nowadays, biotechnology is considered as a very important contributor to future economic growth, job creation, public health, environmental protection and sustainable development. About 1.55% of the EU gross value added can be ascribed to the application of modern biotechnology. Improving the innovation performance of these EU firms is crucial for them to gain a better competitive position. Within the European Commission there is also a strong need to continue promoting the development of life sciences and biotechnology, in particular by increasing research and promoting competitiveness. For that reason the biotechnology sector has been chosen as one of the nine sectors in the second Sectoral Innovation Watch (SIW-II) stud

Biotechnology policies and performance in central and eastern Europe

This paper assesses how far ten Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have 'caught up ' in biotechnology on the basis of information about the policies and funding for biotechnology research and commercialisation from 2002-2005 and on the research and commercialisation performance of these countries. The countries that are covered are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. The countries are grouped into three clusters, with similar performances in biotechnology as the basis for distinguishing the shared characteristics which could explain performance. Government science and technology policy is found to be a significant factor in explaining biotechnology performance

Microalgae-based products for food and feed sector: an outlook for Europe

This report presents the results of an analysis of the technological and market developments in the field of micro-algal production systems, especially for food and feed products. Based on literature search and on interviews and survey to experts, the report provides the current state-ofthe- art of microalgae as systems for producing food/feed products and discusses the future challenges for Europe to become a key player in this field