Davidson Thomas, Krevers Barbro, Levin Lars-Ake
Center for Medical Technology Assessment , Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
Eur J Health Econ. 2008 Aug;9(3):285-92. doi: 10.1007/s10198-007-0076-z. Epub 2007 Sep 12.
This study estimates quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) weights for relatives caring for an older person. The data used are from the Swedish part of the EUROFAMCARE study. A new measure is introduced called the R-QALY weight, defined as the effect on a relative's QALY weight due to being a relative of a disabled or sick individual. R-QALY weights were created by comparing relatives' QALY weights with population-based QALY weights. They were also created by comparing with QALY weights reassessed for a hypothetical situation in which the older person needed no care. The results indicate that R-QALY weights are small when compared with population-based weights, but large when compared with QALY weights reassessed for the hypothetical situation. Moreover, R-QALY weights were affected by relatives' age, sex, and subjective perception of positive and negative aspects of the caregiving situation. These aspects should therefore be taken into account in health economics evaluations using a societal approach.
