Practicality, Validity, and Responsiveness of Using the Proxy Version of the Child Health Utility–9 Dimensions With Children Aged 2 to 5 Years

This study aimed to assess the practicality, validity, and responsiveness of the proxy Child Health Utility–9 Dimensions (CHU9D) in children aged 2 to 5 years. We used data from the Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention trial, a UK randomized controlled trial testing whether daily emollients in infancy could prevent eczema in high-risk infants. The main parent/carer completed the proxy CHU9D using developers’ additional guidance for completion in those younger than 5 years and the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) at ages 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Practicality was assessed by completion rates. Construct validity assessed whether CHU9D could discriminate between those with/without eczema and between eczema severity levels on POEM. Responsiveness was determined by ability to discriminate between 3 groups: (1) those whose POEM score deteriorated ≥3 points, (2) those whose change was not clinically important (−2.9 to 2.9 points), and (3) those whose POEM score improved ≥3 points. Analysis was conducted in Stata 17. Of 1394 children participating in the Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention trial, study questionnaires were completed by 1212 (87%), 981 (70%), 990 (71%), and 976 (70%) at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Of these the CHU9D was completed by 1066 (88.0%), 685 (69.8%), 925 (93.4%), and 923 (94.6%), respectively. Mean utility at all time points was approximately 0.934 (range 0.443-1). For construct validity, very small differences in the CHU9D between known groups were observed (P < .01). A total of 801 participants had responsiveness data: 13% deteriorated, 72% had nonclinically important change, and 15% improved. Mean utility change (standardized response mean) for these groups was −0.0198 (0.21), 0.0041 (0.05), and 0.0175 (0.21) showing small change and small responsiveness. Proxy CHU9D in 2- to 5-year-old children shows potential but further research is needed. •Measuring child utility in health economic evaluations is challenging. The Child Health Utility–9 Dimensions (CHU9D) is a generic preference-based measure with 9 dimensions each with 5 levels that has been used with children aged ≥5 years. Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of CHU9D in those younger than 5 years.•This article explores the practicality, validity (construct and convergent), and responsiveness of the proxy CHU9D in children aged 2 to 5 years using data collected as part of a previously reported clinical trial.•The practicality of the proxy CHU9D improved with