The introduction of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) – standardized measurement instruments designed to assess health status or certain aspects of health as directly reported by the patient - is one strategy to ensure that patient’s perspectives are systematically incorporated into healthcare delivery and performance evaluation. Alberta Health recommends the use of EQ-5D for self-reported health status assessments across the Alberta healthcare system. As such, it is used in several routine outcome measurement initiatives across numerous programs and divisions in the province, including in WCB-Alberta’s return-to-work surveys. Our project aims to leverage the wealth of routinely collected self-reported health data using the EQ-5D measure within WCB surveys. Our goal is to drive quality improvement initiatives within health programs tailored to facilitate workers' return to work. Furthermore, we aim to delve into the capabilities of the EQ-5D in predicting return-to-work outcomes of injured workers, thereby enhancing the ability to tailor interventions and support mechanisms more effectively. This project will significantly contribute to the body of evidence on the use of real-world EQ-5D data to inform quality improvement initiatives within the context of health and social care.
The specific research objectives of this project are to:
1) Assess the impact of various WCB programs on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of injured workers measured using the EQ-5D instrument;
2) Compare the HRQoL outcomes measured by the EQ-5D instrument against Alberta population norms that we derived from large population health surveys; and
3) Examine the predictive validity of the EQ-5D in forecasting return-to-work outcomes among injured workers.
The expected outcomes from this project include: 1) Identification of the impact of WCB programs on the HRQoL of injured workers, contributing to evidence-based policy recommendations; 2) Identification of differences between HRQoL outcomes in injured workers upon program completion and the general Alberta population, potentially indicating areas for targeted intervention; 3) Validation of the EQ-5D as a useful tool for predicting return-to-work outcomes, enhancing the efficacy of WCB assessments and interventions.