HEALTH LITERACY AND EQ-5D-5L UTILITY SCORES AMONG MALAYSIAN PATIENTS WITH COMMON CANCERS

Abstract

Health utility values, reflecting individuals’ assigned preferences and perceived value of their health status, are commonly assessed using the standardised instrument of EQ-5D-5L to measure health outcomes. However, there is limited evidence in the literature on the influence of health literacy (HL) levels on health utility values. This study aimed to investigate the HL level influence on EQ-5D-5L utility scores among patients with common cancers in Malaysia. An online questionnaire was distributed via the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) application to 235 respondents with three major cancer groups, i.e. breast, colon, and lung cancers. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit Malaysian cancer patients who met the study’s inclusion. The EQ-5D-5L scores were the dependent variable. Exploratory variables were the three domains of HL, i.e. healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion. A short version of the 12-item HL questionnaire (HLS-SF12) was used. The median EQ-5D-5L values was 0.80 (interquartile range 0.68-0.92). Pain and discomfort were the most common symptoms reported. The majority of cancer patients reported a low level of general HL (70.2%) and it was significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L utility scores . HL levels among patients with common cancer in Malaysia should be taken into consideration when planning and establishing programmes aimed at improving the values of utility and the quality of life of the patients.