Multi-attribute Utility Functions for a Comprehensive Health Status Classification System: Health Utilities Index Mark 2

A seven-attribute health status classification system was developed to record the wide variety of outcomes of childhood cancer and its treatment. The system consists of six core attributes (sensory function, mobility function, emotional function, cognitive function, self care function, and pain) and one disease specific attribute (fertility). The system can be used with or without the fertility attribute. A random sample of parents of children in Kindergarten to Grade 5 was interviewed to determine cardinal preferences for the health states in the system. Values were measured using visual analogue scaling. Utilities were measured using standard gamble. A multiplicative multi-attribute value function is described, based on 203 subjects. A multiplicative multi-attribute utility function is also provided, based on 194 subjects. The system and its preference functions may be useful to other researchers who wish to document health status and assign preference scores.