‘The ICECAP-SCM tells you more about what I’m going through’: a think-aloud study measuring quality of life among patients receiving supportive and palliative care

Cara Bailey, Philip Kinghorn, Rosana Orlando, Kathy Armour, Rachel Perry, Louise Jones, Joanna Coast

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: The ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure is a self-complete questionnaire developed to aid economic evaluation of supportive care interventions.

Aim: To determine the feasibility of completing ICECAP–Supportive Care Measure alongside EQ-5D-5L and ICECAP-A (generic measures used in economic evaluation) among patients receiving hospice care, close persons and healthcare professionals.

Design: Participants were asked to ‘think aloud’ while completing ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure and two other generic measures used in economic evaluation, EQ-5D-5L and ICECAP-A, and then participate in a semi-structured interview. From verbatim transcripts, five raters identified the frequency of errors in comprehension, retrieval, judgement and response. Qualitative data were analysed using constant comparison.

Setting/participants: Eligible patients were identified from one UK hospice by a research nurse. Close persons and healthcare professionals were identified by the patient. In all, 72 semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (n = 33), close persons (n = 22) and healthcare professionals (n = 17).

Results: Patients and close persons reported that the ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure was most appropriate for measuring their quality of life. It appeared more meaningful, easier to complete and had fewest errors (3.9% among patients, 4.5% among close persons) compared to EQ-5D-5L (9.7% among patients, 5.5% among close persons). Healthcare professionals acknowledged the value of the ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure but had fewer errors in completing the EQ-5D-5L (3.5% versus 6.7%). They found it easier to complete because it focuses on observable health states.

Conclusions: The ICECAP-Supportive Care Measure is feasible to use and perceived as appropriate for evaluating palliative care interventions. Healthcare professionals with limited knowledge of the patient who act as proxy completers may find the measure difficult to complete.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)642-652
Number of pages11
JournalPalliative Medicine
Volume30
Issue number7
Early online date27 Jan 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2016

Keywords

  • think aloud
  • hospice
  • Palliative care
  • economic evaluation
  • quality of life
  • measurement
  • end-of-life care

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