A methodological study on measuring health utility based on multi-attribute utility function (MAUF)_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

ZHANG Xiaolu ¹ , GAO Xin ¹ , LI Rui ¹ , PENG Xin ² , WANG Peimeng ¹ , WANG Yaoling ¹ , ZHANG Yuzheng ¹ , XIAO Feiyi ¹ ,  GUO Wudong ¹ ,  LI Xue ¹

1. China National Health Development Research Center, Beijing 100044, P. R. China;
2. Institute of Pharmaceutical Economics, School of Pharmacy, Sun Yat sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China;

Corresponding author：

GUO Wudong, Email: guowudong@hotmail.com; LI Xue, Email: lx0204@126.com

Keywords：

Multi-attribute utility function (MAUF); Health utility; Methodological; Study design

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.202502016

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

The multi-attribute utility function (MAUF) is a commonly used method for measuring health utility, characterized by a solid theoretical foundation and operational feasibility. It contributes to reducing the cognitive burden on respondents, caters to the measurement of utility across multiple dimensions, and represents another most widely applied approach beyond traditional econometrics, warranting exploration and application. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive and systematic research on this method in China, with insufficient practical application experience. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to systematically explore the methodological background of MAUF and the key points of research design for measuring health utility using this method. By drawing on the utility measurement experiences from internationally developed measurement scales such as HUI 1, HUI 2, HUI 3, 15D, AQol-8D, ASUI, HUG-5, TOOL, and ALSUI, it systematically analyzes the critical steps in the practical implementation of the method. It is hoped that this work will comprehensively and clearly elaborate on the practical approaches of MAUF, promote the further development of MAUF in China, and provide methodological references for future studies on health utility measurement based on MAUF.

Citation： ZHANG Xiaolu, GAO Xin, LI Rui, PENG Xin, WANG Peimeng, WANG Yaoling, ZHANG Yuzheng, XIAO Feiyi, GUO Wudong, LI Xue. A methodological study on measuring health utility based on multi-attribute utility function (MAUF). Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2025, 25(9): 1083-1091. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.202502016 Copy

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2.	孙利华, 吴晶. 药物经济学(研究生). 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2022.
3.	Rowen D. Preference-based measures of health-related quality of life. Michalos AC. Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2014.
4.	伍红艳, 孙利华. 多维效用函数在健康效用值测量中的应用. 中国新药杂志, 2011, 20(16): 1494-1498.
5.	King MT, Costa DS, Aaronson NK, et al. QLU-C10D: a health state classification system for a multi-attribute utility measure based on the EORTC QLQ-C30. Qual Life Res, 2016, 25(3): 625-636.
6.	张晓路, 李睿, 高鑫, 等. 基于离散选择实验测量健康效用的方法学研究. 中国循证医学杂志, 2024, 24(12): 1442-1450.
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8.	崔磊, 卢凌宇. 理性选择与缅甸军人干政: 基于预期效用理论的分析. 比较政治学研究, 2024, (1): 179-204.
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13.	Torrance GW, Boyle MH, Horwood SP. Application of multi-attribute utility theory to measure social preferences for health states. Oper Res, 1982, 30(6): 1043-1069.
14.	Torrance GW, Feeny DH, Furlong WJ, et al. Multiattribute utility function for a comprehensive health status classification system. Health Utilities Index Mark 2. Med Care, 1996, 34(7): 702-722.
15.	Kim W. Modelling Danish weights for the15d quality of life questionnaire by applying multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT). 2008.
16.	Richardson J, Sinha K, Iezzi A, et al. Modelling utility weights for the assessment of quality of life (AQoL)-8D. Qual Life Res, 2014, 23(8): 2395-2404.
17.	Revicki DA, Leidy NK, Brennan-Diemer F, et al. Integrating patient preferences into health outcomes assessment: the multiattribute asthma symptom utility Index. Chest, 1998, 114(4): 998-1007.
18.	Jönsson L, Lang A, Lindström E. Tool: multi-attribute utility function reflecting patient experience of side effects to antipsychotic therapy. Value Health, 2009, 7(12): A361-A362.
19.	Beusterien K, Leigh N, Jackson C, et al. Integrating preferences into health status assessment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the ALS utility index. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord, 2005, 6(3): 169-176.
20.	Cadman D, Goldsmith C, Torrance G W, et al. Development of a health status index for Ontario children. Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster University, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, 1986.
21.	王啟南, 罗南. 多维效用指数及其在亚洲的应用. 中国药物经济学, 2006, (2): 12.
22.	Sundaram M, Smith MJ, Revicki DA, et al. Estimation of a valuation function for a diabetes mellitus-specific preference-based measure of health: the diabetes utility index. Pharmacoeconomics, 2010, 28(3): 201-216.
23.	Boyle MH, Torrance GW. Developing multiattribute health indexes. Med Care, 1984, 22(11): 1045-1057.
24.	伍红艳. 健康效用值测量研究. 沈阳: 沈阳药科大学, 2012.
25.	Parducci A, Wedell DH. The category effect with rating scales: number of categories, number of stimuli, and method of presentation. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform, 1986, 12(4): 496-516.
26.	David LS, Geoffrey RN, John C. Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
27.	Torrance GW, Furlong W, Feeny D, et al. Multi-attribute preference functions. Health utilities index. Pharmacoeconomics, 1995, 7(6): 503-520.
28.	Torrance GW, Feeny D, Furlong W. Visual analog scales: do they have a role in the measurement of preferences for health states. Med Decis Making, 2001, 21(4): 329-334.

1. 刘国恩. 中国药物经济学评价指南2020. 北京: 中国市场出版社, 2020.
2. 孙利华, 吴晶. 药物经济学(研究生). 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2022.
3. Rowen D. Preference-based measures of health-related quality of life. Michalos AC. Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2014.
4. 伍红艳, 孙利华. 多维效用函数在健康效用值测量中的应用. 中国新药杂志, 2011, 20(16): 1494-1498.
5. King MT, Costa DS, Aaronson NK, et al. QLU-C10D: a health state classification system for a multi-attribute utility measure based on the EORTC QLQ-C30. Qual Life Res, 2016, 25(3): 625-636.
6. 张晓路, 李睿, 高鑫, 等. 基于离散选择实验测量健康效用的方法学研究. 中国循证医学杂志, 2024, 24(12): 1442-1450.
7. 彭馨, 高鑫, 罗川朝, 等. 多维效用函数在构建量表效用积分体系中的应用. 中国卫生经济, 2024, 43(12): 7-13.
8. 崔磊, 卢凌宇. 理性选择与缅甸军人干政: 基于预期效用理论的分析. 比较政治学研究, 2024, (1): 179-204.
9. Karami-Matin B, Najafi F, Rezaei S, et al. Estimating the economic burden of premature mortality caused by cancer in Iran: 2006-2010. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2016, 17(4): 2131-2136.
10. William F, David F, George WT. Multiplicative multi-attribute utility function for the health utilities index mark 3 (HUI3) system: a technical report. 1998.
11. Feeny D, Furlong W, Torrance GW, et al. Multiattribute and single-attribute utility functions for the health utilities index mark 3 system. Med Care, 2002, 40(2): 113-128.
12. Kennedy K, Pickard S, Tarride JE, et al. Resurrecting multiattribute utility function: developing a value set for health utility for glaucoma. Value Health, 2023, 26(8): 1249-1257.
13. Torrance GW, Boyle MH, Horwood SP. Application of multi-attribute utility theory to measure social preferences for health states. Oper Res, 1982, 30(6): 1043-1069.
14. Torrance GW, Feeny DH, Furlong WJ, et al. Multiattribute utility function for a comprehensive health status classification system. Health Utilities Index Mark 2. Med Care, 1996, 34(7): 702-722.
15. Kim W. Modelling Danish weights for the15d quality of life questionnaire by applying multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT). 2008.
16. Richardson J, Sinha K, Iezzi A, et al. Modelling utility weights for the assessment of quality of life (AQoL)-8D. Qual Life Res, 2014, 23(8): 2395-2404.
17. Revicki DA, Leidy NK, Brennan-Diemer F, et al. Integrating patient preferences into health outcomes assessment: the multiattribute asthma symptom utility Index. Chest, 1998, 114(4): 998-1007.
18. Jönsson L, Lang A, Lindström E. Tool: multi-attribute utility function reflecting patient experience of side effects to antipsychotic therapy. Value Health, 2009, 7(12): A361-A362.
19. Beusterien K, Leigh N, Jackson C, et al. Integrating preferences into health status assessment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the ALS utility index. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord, 2005, 6(3): 169-176.
20. Cadman D, Goldsmith C, Torrance G W, et al. Development of a health status index for Ontario children. Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster University, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, 1986.
21. 王啟南, 罗南. 多维效用指数及其在亚洲的应用. 中国药物经济学, 2006, (2): 12.
22. Sundaram M, Smith MJ, Revicki DA, et al. Estimation of a valuation function for a diabetes mellitus-specific preference-based measure of health: the diabetes utility index. Pharmacoeconomics, 2010, 28(3): 201-216.
23. Boyle MH, Torrance GW. Developing multiattribute health indexes. Med Care, 1984, 22(11): 1045-1057.
24. 伍红艳. 健康效用值测量研究. 沈阳: 沈阳药科大学, 2012.
25. Parducci A, Wedell DH. The category effect with rating scales: number of categories, number of stimuli, and method of presentation. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform, 1986, 12(4): 496-516.
26. David LS, Geoffrey RN, John C. Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
27. Torrance GW, Furlong W, Feeny D, et al. Multi-attribute preference functions. Health utilities index. Pharmacoeconomics, 1995, 7(6): 503-520.
28. Torrance GW, Feeny D, Furlong W. Visual analog scales: do they have a role in the measurement of preferences for health states. Med Decis Making, 2001, 21(4): 329-334.

Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

A methodological study on measuring health utility based on multi-attribute utility function (MAUF)

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