Although these measures are reported in clinical trials by both physicians and patients, it is often challenging to infer the objective health-state utility solely based on this type of data.
This has prompted the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) to develop a new systematic approach to mapping the existing data to bridge the gap between patient-reported outcomes and their meaning in terms of the added utility to the patient.
ISPOR says the model will be a valuable tool for future economic evaluations of health services and has potential to be applied internationally and adjusted to different healthcare systems.
From the report:
Mapping studies often form an important element of the evidence submitted to health technology assessment, pricing, or reimbursement authorities.
The findings must, therefore, be reported in a manner that allows a full assessment of the quality and relevance of the mapping by those who do not have access to the individual-level data. In addition to this transparency requirement, it will be helpful to other analysts if enough information is reported for them to use results in their own cost-effectiveness analysis.”
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