Objectives: Although the EQ-5D has been used with increasing frequency to measure health-related quality of life, to date, the measure's validity has not been examined in Chinese American immigrants. We evaluated the construct validity of the EQ-5D by testing its performance with respect to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the population and comparing responses on the EQ dimensions with the SF-36 subscales. Methods: The study surveyed low-income Chinese patients attending a community health center in New York City's Chinatown. Participants received self-administered versions of the EQ-5D and SF-36 and additional questions regarding demographic and clinical information. Results: 856 patients were approached and data were collected from 523 patients (61%). Analysis of the EQ-5D responses by sociodemographic and clinical variables found significant differences among categories of age, gender, marital status, number of medical problems, self-rated health, and specific medical problems. Correlations between similar dimensions and subscale scores were stronger between the two measures than dissimilar ones. Patients without impairments on a given EQ dimension tended to have higher SF-36 subscale scores than patients reporting 'any' impairment (i.e. some/moderate or severe). Conclusions: The results provide initial support for the construct validity of the EQ-5D in our sample. Further studies should compare the performance of the EQ-5D with other preference-based measures in Chinese persons and examine the valuations that both low-income and Chinese persons place on core aspects of health.

Primary care Socioeconomic status Health status Survey Asian-Americans

information processing primary medical care lowest income group demography poverty correlation analysis human middle aged validation process Self Assessment (Psychology) Activities of Daily Living priority journal comparative study Aged marriage quality of life Community Health Centers Humans Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American female Review questionnaire medical information Health Status Indicators Questionnaires adult gender New York City health care quality age distribution health center social class attitude to health primary health care health survey