Comparison of direct-measured and derived short form six dimensions (SF-6D) health preference values among chronic hepatitis B patients.

Purpose: The short form six dimensions (SF-6D) are derived from the SF-36 Health Survey with the intention that item data of the latter are often converted to a preference value, which was subsequently used in economic evaluations of interventions. The aim was to compare the equivalence and sensitivity of health preference values derived from the SF-36/SF-12 Health Surveys to that measured directly by the SF-6D for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the SF-6D and SF-36 data from a baseline sample of 589 patients with CHB infection with different stages of liver diseases.

Is the SF-12 version 2 Health Survey a valid and equivalent substitute for the SF-36 version 2 Health Survey for the Chinese?

Rationale And Objectives: The scoring algorithm of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was revised in the second version (SF-12v2), but information on its psychometric properties is lacking. This study determined whether the SF-12v2 was a valid and equivalent substitute for the SF-36v2 Health Survey (version 2) for the Chinese.

Methods: A total of 2410 Chinese adults in Hong Kong completed the SF-36 Health Survey by telephone.

Brief problem-solving treatment in primary care (PST-PC) was not more effective than placebo for elderly patients screened positive of psychological problems.

Objectives: To evaluate whether screening followed by brief problem-solving treatment by primary care doctors (PST-PC) could improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and reduce consultation rates in the elderly.

Design: A single-blind randomized placebo controlled trial (RCT).

Setting: Two government funded primary care clinics in Hong Kong.

Psychometrics of the chronic liver disease questionnaire for Southern Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Aim: To test the psychometric properties of a Chinese [(Hong Kong) HK] translation of the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).

Methods: A Chinese (HK) translation of the CLDQ was developed by iterative translation and cognitive debriefing. It was then administered to 72 uncomplicated and 78 complicated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Hong Kong together with a structured questionnaire on service utilization, and the Chinese (HK) SF-36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2).

Health-related quality of life of Southern Chinese with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Southern Chinese with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection.

Aim: To evaluate the HRQOL of Chinese patients at different stages of CHB infection and to find out factors associated with HRQOL.

Methods: 520 Chinese adult CHB patients of whom 156 were uncomplicated, 102 had impaired liver function, 139 had cirrhosis and 123 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, the SF-36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ).