ICECAP-O capability index value set
A set of values used to measure quality of life for older people based on what they are able to do and be, such as feeling secure, having a role, enjoying life, and being in control. It helps compare health and social care interventions by capturing broader well-being impacts.
At a glance
Use when
Evaluating interventions affecting older adults where impacts extend beyond health, such as social care, housing, or community support programs; when a broader well-being metric is preferred over traditional HRQoL measures.
Avoid when
When focus is strictly on clinical health outcomes; when working with non-older populations (use ICECAP-A instead); when country-specific valuation is required but not available.
Inputs
Responses to the ICECAP-O questionnaire (five attributes with four levels each), or population-level preference data from best-worst scaling surveys.
Outputs
Preference-weighted index score representing capability well-being, typically ranging from 0 (worst) to 1 (full capability), suitable for use in QALY-like metrics (e.g., CYCLEs).
How it works
The ICECAP-O capability index value set provides preference weights for the five attributes of the ICECAP-O instrument—attachment, security, role, enjoyment, and control—valued using best-worst scaling in a UK population sample. These values enable capability-based cost-effectiveness analysis, particularly in older adult populations, extending beyond health-related quality of life to include broader well-being.
- HTA domains
- Patient and Social Aspects
- Categories
- HRQoL
- Assumptions
- The five ICECAP-O attributes adequately capture important aspects of capability well-being for older adults; public preferences reflect societal value; linear additive utility model is appropriate; UK valuation is generalizable to similar settings.
- Strengths
- Captures broader well-being beyond health, relevant for social care and public health,Based on robust valuation using best-worst scaling with representative samples,Preference weights derived from general population support use in economic evaluation,Validated and widely used in ageing and social care research
- Limitations
- May not capture all dimensions of well-being important to older adults,UK-specific valuation may limit applicability in other cultural contexts,Relies on methodological assumptions of best-worst scaling and utility aggregation
- Also known as
- ICECAP-O, ICECAP Older People's Index, ICECAP-O value set
Questions this answers
- › What is the impact of an intervention on older adults' overall capability well-being?
- › How do different health or social care programs compare in terms of improving quality of life beyond health?
- › What are the preference-based weights for key aspects of well-being in older populations?
- › Can quality of life improvements be measured in non-health domains for economic evaluation?
- › How can capability well-being be quantified for use in cost-utility analysis?
- › What values reflect UK public preferences for capabilities in later life?
References & sources
Similar by meaning
Beta record. Based on the original catalogue summary; primary-source enrichment pending.