Development and features

The ReQoL-Utility Index (ReQoL-UI) consists of six mental health questions and a physical health question and therefore utility scores can be generated from both ReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20.

ReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20 were specifically developed with considerable inputs from service users and have high face and content validity. Therefore, the corresponding utilities are likely to be more appropriate for use to evaluate mental healthcare interventions than those generated from generic preference-based measures with a larger focus on PH rather than on MH.

Sixty four health states were valued by 305 participants, selected to generate a nationally representative sample based on age and sex. The preferred model was a random effects model, with significant and consistent coefficients and best model fit. The development of the ReQoL-UI is based on a novel application of item response theory methods for generating the classification system and selecting health states for valuation. Conventional time-trade-off was used to elicit utility values that are modeled to enable the generation of QALYs for use in cost-utility analysis of mental health interventions. The methodology is described in detail in this publication.