Estimating a Preference-Based Value Set for the Mental Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (MHQoL)

Background Health economic evaluations using common health-related quality of life measures may fall short in adequately measuring and valuing the benefits of mental health care interventions. The Mental Health Quality of Life questionnaire (MHQoL) is a standardized, self-administered mental health–related quality of life instrument covering 7 dimensions known to be relevant across and valued highly by people with mental health problems. The aim of this study was to derive a Dutch value set for the MHQoL to facilitate its use in cost-utility analyses. Methods The value set was estimated using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with duration that accommodated nonlinear time preferences. The DCE was embedded in a web-based self-complete survey and administered to a representative sample ( N  = 1,308) of the Dutch adult population. The matched pairwise choice tasks were created using a Bayesian heterogeneous D-efficient design. The overall DCE design comprised 10 different subdesigns, with each subdesign containing 15 matched pairwise choice tasks. Each participant was asked to complete 1 of the subdesigns to which they were randomly assigned. Results The obtained coefficients indicated that “physical health,†“mood,†and “relationships†were the most important dimensions. All coefficients were in the expected direction and reflected the monotonic structure of the MHQoL, except for level 2 of the dimension “future.†The predicted values for the MHQoL ranged from −0.741 for the worst state to 1 for the best state. Conclusions This study derived a Dutch value set for the recently introduced MHQoL. This value set allows for the generation of an index value for all MHQoL states on a QALY scale and may hence be used in Dutch cost-utility analyses of mental healthcare interventions. Highlights A discrete choice experiment was used to derive a Dutch value set for the MHQoL. This allows the use of the MHQoL in Dutch cost-utility analyses. The dimensions physical health, mood, and relationships were the most important. The utility values range from −0.741 for the worst state to 1 for the best state.