Vicki Brown1,2, Eng J Tan1,3, Alison Hayes1,3, Louise Baur1,3, Karen Campbell1,4, Rachael Taylor1,5, Rebecca Byrne1,6, Li Ming Wen1,3,7, Kylie D Hesketh1,4, Marjory Moodie1,2. 1. Centre for Research Excellence in Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2. Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. 3. Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 4. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. 5. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 6. School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 7. Population Health Research and Evaluation Hub, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the absence of rigorous evidence of cost-effectiveness for early childhood obesity prevention interventions, the next-best option may be for decision-makers to consider the relevant costs of interventions when allocating resources. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate systematically the cost of five obesity prevention interventions in children aged 0-2 years, undertaken in research settings in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: A standardised costing protocol informed the costing methodology, ensuring comparability of results across interventions. Micro-costing was undertaken, with intervention costs defined from the funder perspective and valued in 2018 Australian dollars using unit costs from the trials or market rates. RESULTS: Interventions varied widely in their resource use. The total cost per participant ranged from $80 for the CHAT SMS intervention arm (95% UI $77-$82) to $1135 for the Healthy Beginnings intervention (95% UI $1059-$1189). Time costs of personnel delivering interventions contributed >50% of total intervention costs for all included studies. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of the costs associated with intervention delivery modes is important, alongside effectiveness. Telephone delivery may include unexpected costs associated with connection to intervention participants at convenient times. A SMS-based intervention had the lowest delivery cost in this study.
BACKGROUND: In the absence of rigorous evidence of cost-effectiveness for early childhood obesity prevention interventions, the next-best option may be for decision-makers to consider the relevant costs of interventions when allocating resources. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate systematically the cost of five obesity prevention interventions in children aged 0-2 years, undertaken in research settings in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: A standardised costing protocol informed the costing methodology, ensuring comparability of results across interventions. Micro-costing was undertaken, with intervention costs defined from the funder perspective and valued in 2018 Australian dollars using unit costs from the trials or market rates. RESULTS: Interventions varied widely in their resource use. The total cost per participant ranged from $80 for the CHAT SMS intervention arm (95% UI $77-$82) to $1135 for the Healthy Beginnings intervention (95% UI $1059-$1189). Time costs of personnel delivering interventions contributed >50% of total intervention costs for all included studies. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of the costs associated with intervention delivery modes is important, alongside effectiveness. Telephone delivery may include unexpected costs associated with connection to intervention participants at convenient times. A SMS-based intervention had the lowest delivery cost in this study.
Authors: Mahalakshmi Ekambareshwar; Sarah Taki; Seema Mihrshahi; Louise Baur; Li Ming Wen; Chris Rissel Journal: Health Promot J Austr Date: 2021-12-08