文章基本信息

标题：Are symbols useful and culturally acceptable in health-state valuation studies? An exploratory study in a multi-ethnic Asian population
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作者：Hwee-Lin ; Wee ; Shu-Chuen Li 等
期刊名称：Patient Preference and Adherence
印刷版ISSN：1177-889X
电子版ISSN：1177-889X
出版年度：2008
卷号：2
页码：271-276
DOI：10.2147/PPA.S4142
出版社：Dove Medical Press Ltd
摘要：Background: Symbols have been used in health state valuation studies to help subjects distinguish the severity of various characteristics of a given health state. Symbols used in such studies need to be evaluated for their cross-cultural appropriateness because a given symbol may have different meanings or acceptability in different cultures, which may affect results of such studies. Objectives: To evaluate if using symbols to differentiate health states of different severity is useful and culturally acceptable in a multi-ethnic, urban Asian population. Methods: Using in-depth interviews with adult Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporeans conducted in English/mother-tongue, subjects were shown a health state with 6 levels (Health Utilities Index 3 vision), each displayed with a symbol, and asked (1a) if symbols were useful in differentiating severity of each level (measured using dichotomous and 0–10 visual analog scale [VAS] scales) or (1b) offensive and (2) to assess 7 alternative sets of symbols. Results: Of 63 subjects (91% response rate), 18 (29%) felt symbols were useful in differentiating severity of each level. Reported usefulness of symbols was fair (median VAS score: 3.0, score exceeding 5.0 for 33% of subjects). One Malay subject felt symbols were offensive. Conclusions: Use of symbols for health state valuation was culturally acceptable and useful for some subjects.
关键词：Asian; Southeastern; culture; health status; questionnaires; Singapore