Health State Valuation in Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment: Feasibility of Computer-Based, Direct Patient Utility Assessment

Neal V. Dawson, Mendel E. Singer, Leslie Lenert, Marian B. Patterson, Susie A. Sami, Iahn Gonsenhouser, Heather A. Lindstrom, Kathleen A. Smyth, Melissa J. Barber and Peter J. Whitehouse
Additional contact information
Neal V. Dawson: Department of Medicine, University Memory and Aging Center, nvd@po.cwru.edu, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Memory and Aging Center, Center for Health Care Research and Policy at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Mendel E. Singer: University Memory and Aging Center, Center for Health Care Research and Policy at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Leslie Lenert: Department of Medicine, University Memory and Aging Center, HSR&D Service of the VA San Diego Health System, San Diego, California
Marian B. Patterson: Department of Medicine, University Memory and Aging Center
Susie A. Sami: University Memory and Aging Center
Iahn Gonsenhouser: University Memory and Aging Center
Heather A. Lindstrom: University Memory and Aging Center
Kathleen A. Smyth: University Memory and Aging Center
Melissa J. Barber: University Memory and Aging Center
Peter J. Whitehouse: University Memory and Aging Center, Departments of Neurology, Cognitive Science, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Psychology, Nursing, Organizational Behavior, and History Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio

Medical Decision Making, 2008, vol. 28, issue 2, 220-232

Abstract: Background. Most patients with dementia will, at some point, need a proxy health care decision maker. It is unknown whether persons with various degrees of cognitive impairment can reliably report their health-related preferences. Methods. The authors performed health state valuations (HSVs) of current and hypothetical future health states on 47 pairs of patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and their caregivers using computer-based standard gamble, time tradeoff, and rating scale techniques. Results. Patients' mean (SD) age was 74.6 (9.3) years. About half of the patients were women (48%), as were most caregivers (73%), who were on average younger (mean age= 66.2 years, SD= 12.2). Most participants were white (83%); 17% were African American. The mean (SD) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of patients was 24.2 (4.6) of 30. All caregivers and 77% of patients (36/47) completed all 18 components of the HSV exercise. Patients who completed the HSV exercise were slightly younger (mean age [SD]= 74.1 [8.5] v. 75.9 [11.8]; P = 0.569) and had significantly higher MMSE scores (mean score [SD] = 25.0 [4.3] v. 21.4 [4.4]; P = 0.018). Although MMSE scores below 20 did not preclude the completion of all 18 HSV ratings, being classified as having moderate cognitive impairment was associated with a lower likelihood of completing all scenario ratings (44% v. 82%). Patient and caregiver responses showed good consistency across time and across techniques and were logically consistent. Conclusion. Obtaining HSVs for current and hypothetical health states was feasible for most patients with mild cognitive impairment and many with moderate cognitive impairment. HSV assessments were consistent and reasonable.

Keywords: health state valuation; utilities; dementia; cognitive impairment; computer-based techniques; reliability. (Med Decis Making 2008; 28:220—232) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:28:y:2008:i:2:p:220-232

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X07311750

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