A Comparison of Disability Weights for Alcohol Use Disorders

Objective: This study aims to determine and compare the disability weights of alcohol use disorders (AUD) based on responses from AUD patients and a non-patient population using three valuation methods. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from three hospitals in southern Thailand. Two groups of participants were recruited: 150 patients diagnosed with AUD and a control group containing 150 persons without AUD. Both groups were asked to rate the AUD health states using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and again using either the European Quality of Life-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) instrument or the time trade-off (TTO) technique. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Results: The mean disability weights, based on the VAS, TTO and EQ-5D valuation methods obtained from AUD patients were: 0.485, 0.405, and 0.311, respectively, while those obtained from the control group were: 0.541, 0.330, and 0.237, respectively. Disability weights had a positive correlation with AUD severity levels. Employment status and family income were significantly associated with VAS disability weight among the control group. Conclusion: The use of three different instruments to calculate disability weights for people with AUD is feasible in Thailand. The disability weights differ depending on the valuation methods used and respondent groups.