Data analysis

First, we compared demographic characteristics of participants in each COVID-19 period. Then, we examined EQ-5D-5L dimensions, index, and VAS scores pre-COVID and during waves 1 and 2 in the overall sample compared to Alberta EQ-5D-5L population norms, and by subgroups defined by age, sex, and total annual household income. Samples’ characteristics in the three COVID-19 periods were compared with those of the Alberta population norms sample (Alberta PROMs and EQ-5D, 2018). Bivariate analyses using chi-square test, t-test, or one-way ANOVA were used to test differences in HRQL between COVID-19 periods as appropriate. Minimal important difference (MID) of 0.04 for EQ-5D-5L index score (McClure et al., 2017) and 7.0 for the VAS score (Pickard et al., 2007) were used to determine an important difference. Data analysis was conducted using STATA 15.0; p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.