The PECUNIA RUM Version 1 was initially developed as a 37-page pen-and-paper questionnaire in English by the scientific partners of the PECUNIA Consortium between mid-2019 and June 2021. An updated, 20-page Version 2 which was developed in 2024, refines the format by reducing complexity and improving usability. It introduces a new work-related section and is available in both Patient and Proxy versions, with options to select either a fixed or flexible recall period. It has a modular structure of nine sections covering questions related to:

–          Residential Care (Section A)

–          Non-residential Health and Social Care (Section B)

–          Prescription Medication (Section C)

–          Informal Help (Section D)

–          Education (Section E)

–          Work (Section F)

–          Safety and Justice System (Section G)

–          Private Expenses (Section H)

–          Final remarks (Section I)

The different modules have been harmonised with each other through the following steps: a comprehensive scoping review to identify existing RUM recommendations, a focus group of health economists to provide feedback on the first draft, an initial wording review, professional English language editing, piloting in (online) interviews with former mental health care users and carers, and a formal translatability assessment.

More information about the development process of the PECUNIA RUM can be found in a video here. PECUNIA RUM has been optimised for translation through the wording review and translatability assessment. To improve transferability and translatability in a trial-based economic evaluation as part of the FLOURISH project, Version 1 required major format adaptations and language simplifications, leading to the creation of a more concise Version 2 which includes a new work-related section and a matching PROXY version.

A comprehensive User Manual is also available to provide guidance on effective use.

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The PECUNIA RUM is currently validated for use by pen and paper administration.

The instrument can also be completed via an interview with a researcher present. Alternatively, it can also be sent to respondents by post to be completed independently.

If you are planning to migrate the PECUNIA RUM into a digital format (such as collecting responses via a website or mobile app), please seek guidance during your licence application to ensure a faithful migration.

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The PECUNIA RUM was developed in conjunction with the PECUNIA costing templates and the PECUNIA RUC Compendium with the aim of facilitating the comparability of resource use and cost data. The PECUNIA costing templates are a Microsoft Excel©-based set of tools that enable researchers to calculate unit costs that can be compared across countries and sectors, using standardized and scientifically validated methods. The PECUNIA costing templates can be accessed here. The PECUNIA RUC compendium is a Microsoft Excel®-based multi-sectoral, multi-country database of unit costs comparable across countries and sectors and developed using standardized and scientifically validated methods (RUCs). Access and more information for the PECUNIA tools can be requested via the website of the PECUNIA project (https://www.pecunia-project.eu/).

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The PECUNIA project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 779292.

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We encourage users to adopt Version 2, as it offers an improved, more concise structure, enhanced usability, and additional features such as the new work-related section and PROXY version. While Version 1 remains available for licensing, Version 2 reflects the latest advancements in resource use measurement and is recommended for all new studies and applications.

To obtain permissions to use the PECUNIA RUM, you will first need to complete and submit a copyright licence application. Please complete the online application form via Oxford University Innovation’s licensing portal. Fees for commercial use may be applicable and are subject to details provided within your licence application or follow-up communications. Anyone wishing to use the instrument for non-commercial research, healthcare and academic teaching activities can do so free-of-charge but must also apply for and be granted a licence to do so.

Once your licence is granted, you will receive the PECUNIA RUM and any support documents you requested via email. If you have any licensing queries, please contact Oxford University Innovation’s Clinical Outcomes team via email at healthoutcomes@innovation.ox.ac.uk. For questions about using the PECUNIA RUM, please contact us via email at pecunia@meduniwien.ac.at.

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Please note that as part of the licensing terms and conditions, you will need to seek authorisation from us to replicate the PECUNIA RUM in a digital format or to include screenshots/copies of the instrument in research papers. When doing so, please reference the copyright message as within the PECUNIA RUM instrument: “© PECUNIA Consortium, 2021”

For references directly related to the research – please use “Pokhilenko, I., Janssen, L.M.M., Paulus, A.T.G. et al. Development of an Instrument for the Assessment of Health-Related Multi-sectoral Resource Use in Europe: The PECUNIA RUM. Appl Health Econ Health Policy (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-022-00780-7”

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The PECUNIA Patient-Reported-Outcome-Measure-Mental Health Compendium (PECUNIA PROM-MH Compendium) is a Microsoft Excel©-based electronic library of non-disease specific PROMs used in MH research.

The PECUNIA PROM-MH Compendium provides meta-data information of existing, publicly available generic PROMs suitable for use in (mental) health research and their applicability in multi-sectoral, multi-national and multi-person (economic) evaluations.

Information about each instrument is organised in five sections:

• BASIC CHARACTERISTICS (information on the year of publication, country (language) of origin, number of items, administration mode, other language versions, etc.);
• SCORING (information on the level-sum scoring, standardised scoring, weighted preference-based scoring, availability of preference-based value sets, availability of mapping studies, etc.);
• VALIDATION IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD (information about validation studies for different mental disorders);
• APPLICATION IN MULTI-SECTORAL, MULTI-NATIONAL, MULTI-PERSON (ECONOMIC) EVALUATIONS (information whether an instrument: i) has separate adult and child/adolescent versions available, ii) has a proxy-completion option available, iii) assesses outcomes beyond health, i.e. capabilities, iv) has multiple language versions available, v) has a preference-based value set available, and vi) has a preference-based value set available in more than one country);
• OTHER (link to the manual and terms of use if available for the specific instrument).

The PECUNIA PROM-MH Compendium can be accessed as part of a licence application request under additional materials.

To find out more information, you can visit the PECUNIA Project page here.

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