ASSESSING HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ECONOMIC COST OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Abstract

The health-related quality of life and economic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in Singapore was assessed in this thesis. Domains of HRQoL important and relevant to this population were identified through patient focus groups. HRQoL was also quantitatively assessed using both generic and SLE-specific instruments, and the economic burden of SLE in Singapore was estimated in a cost-of-illness study. Two areas of research methodology in HRQoL instrument development were also explored in this thesis. First, the effects of group interaction on patient focus group findings were evaluated. Second, a SLE-specific fatigue item bank was developed from the generic Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) fatigue bank and was evaluated for use among SLE patients in Singapore.