Abstract

We are pleased to be able to introduce a series of articles that reflect the current research focus and interests of the EuroQol Group. The EuroQol Group was formed in 1987 by a small group of academics (primarily health economists) from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other European countries with a shared interest in measuring and valuing health. Since then, it has developed into an organization that is global in scope, with a nonprofit foundation that supports the educational and research mission of the group and an association of almost 100 scientific members from 30 different countries.

The articles in this themed section are intended to provide an update or current review of several areas of the group’s research activity. Although the group established much of its research around the generic measurement and valuation of health, that is, not focused on specific conditions or subgroups/populations, the scope of research activities conducted by the group has continued to progress with the field. With the expansion of the original EQ-5D health self-classifier from 3 levels to a new classifier with 5 levels, the group invested in a body of research designed to improve methods of valuation. Research projects explored different aspects of time trade-off (TTO), especially the challenge of valuing states worse than dead and ways to operationalize it. In parallel, the potential role of discrete choice experiments to augment or replace TTO was explored. As the articles reveal, striking a balance between innovative methods and providing a standardized approach to health valuation is a constant challenge. Standardized formats can facilitate data collection and ensure data quality, all in an effort toward better practices in health valuation around the world, particularly by researchers in countries with limited experience in the field.