The quality of QALYs (quality-adjusted-life-years): do QALYs measure what they at least intend to measure? Journal Articles uri icon

  •  
  • Overview
  •  
  • Research
  •  
  • Identity
  •  
  • Additional Document Info
  •  
  • View All
  •  

abstract

  • This note alerts the readers to the fact that QALYs (quality-adjusted-life-years) do not stem directly from the individual's utility function and thus, at best, only partly reflect an individual's true preferences. This might lead to the choice of the non-preferred alternative due to the misrepresentation of the individual's preference. This is illustrated by using a simple example from Mehrez and Gafni (1989).

publication date

  • October 1989