About Us
Established in October 2015, APERSU is an intermediary office that connects the EuroQol foundation with non-commercial users of EQ-5D instruments and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the province of Alberta, Canada. This unit secures licensing for the use of EQ-5D instruments, and supports research and use of other PROMs in Alberta.
Vision
APERSU’s vision is “to improve decisions by end-users and stakeholders about health and health care in Alberta by promoting, coordinating, and supporting the use of EQ-5D and other patient-reported outcome measures for the measurement and valuation of health”.
Objectives
APERSU’s objectives include:
Provide expertise, advice and support for the application of the various EQ-5D instruments and other patient-reported outcome measures by provincial end-users.
Provide oversight and coordination of various non-commercial applications of the EQ-5D instruments in Alberta.
Serve as a liaison between Alberta-based end-users and the EuroQol Foundation.
Facilitate collaborative research among EuroQol Group members with Alberta end-users working with EQ-5D data in the context of large-scale health applications.
Generate information for population health and economic modeling studies to support health policy.
Partnerships and Agreements
APERSU was developed in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA), the EuroQol Foundation, and Alberta Health, and is hosted at the School of Public Health, University of Alberta.
Organizational Structure
The APERSU Team includes Co-Directors Dr. Jeff Johnson & Dr. Arto Ohinmaa, Research Manager Dr. Fatima Al Sayah, and Research Administrator Sherry Lydynuik. The team is supported by a Board of Directors with representatives from Alberta Health Services, Health Quality Council of Alberta, University of Alberta – School of Public Health and the EuroQol Foundation, and a Scientific Advisory Committee, with provincial, national and international representatives.
APERSU Members
Kristin Swampy, RN BScN
APERSU Research Assistant
Summer Internships
This program aims to encourage a new generation of talented young researchers to pursue research and careers in health status measurement and health services research. Interns receive invaluable, direct experience working on specific projects under the guidance of academic members during the summer months (between May and August).
2019 INTERNS
Simrat Sandha, MPH student, University of Alberta
Kai Erh Kao, MSc student, University of Alberta
2018 INTERNS
Maryna Derkach, PhD student, University of Alberta
Shahela Laboni, MSc student, University of Alberta
2017 INTERNS
Andrews Tawiah, PhD student, University of Alberta
Tahmid Kashem, MPH student, University of Alberta
2016 INTERNS
Katelynn Crick, PhD candidate, University of Alberta
Shelby Hoffman, MPH student, University of Saskatchewan
Visiting Students
2019 Olivia Ernstsson, Karolinska Institutet
2021 Vivian Nystrom, University of Oslo
2022 Ana Claudia Fuhrmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul