Chiropody and the QALY: a case study in assigning categories of disability and distress to patients

Stirling Bryan*, David Parkin, Cam Donaldson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Quality adjusted life years (QALYs) are claimed to be a universal means of measuring output form health care interventions. However, existing QALY research has been carried out mainly in 'high-tech', life extending areas of health care. This paper presents an application of QALY measurement to a 'low-tech' life-quality enhancing area of health care, chiropody. Information on changes in quality of life following chiropody interventions was elicited from both practitioners and patients. We found the apparently low benefit, but low cost service of chiropody to be a potentially cost-effective use of NHS resources. Methodological issues are also addressed relating to the assignment of patients to health states, and whether practitioners' or patients' assessments of changes in quality of life should be used.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)169-185
Number of pages17
JournalHealth Policy
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1991
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chiropody
  • Disability and distress
  • Economics
  • QALY

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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