BACKGROUND: The frequency of low birthweight decreases when women quit smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy. This analysis examines the cost-effectiveness of smoking-cessation programs during pregnancy for the prevention of low birthweight. METHODS: Using data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey and estimated costs of care for low birthweight and normal birthweight infants, a decision tree was constructed to estimate break-even costs for smoking-cessation programs, assuming a success rate of 18%. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine how program effectiveness and changes in the population affected the break-even costs. RESULTS: For a population similar to that which participated in the 1988 National Health Interview Survey, smoking-cessation programs would be cost-effective if the program cost $80 or less. In general, to be cost-effective, a smoking-cessation program has to decrease smoking rates by 2.15% to justify every $10 in program costs. Sensitivity analyses showed that as the baseline spontaneous quit rate in the smoking population decreases, smoking-cessation programs of higher cost become more cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation programs during pregnancy may be cost-effective for preventing low birthweight if their cost is $80 or less and they achieve success rates of at least 18%.
BACKGROUND: The frequency of low birthweight decreases when women quit smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy. This analysis examines the cost-effectiveness of smoking-cessation programs during pregnancy for the prevention of low birthweight. METHODS: Using data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey and estimated costs of care for low birthweight and normal birthweight infants, a decision tree was constructed to estimate break-even costs for smoking-cessation programs, assuming a success rate of 18%. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine how program effectiveness and changes in the population affected the break-even costs. RESULTS: For a population similar to that which participated in the 1988 National Health Interview Survey, smoking-cessation programs would be cost-effective if the program cost $80 or less. In general, to be cost-effective, a smoking-cessation program has to decrease smoking rates by 2.15% to justify every $10 in program costs. Sensitivity analyses showed that as the baseline spontaneous quit rate in the smoking population decreases, smoking-cessation programs of higher cost become more cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation programs during pregnancy may be cost-effective for preventing low birthweight if their cost is $80 or less and they achieve success rates of at least 18%.
Authors: Joel F Wallace; Scott R Weingarten; Chiun-Fang Chiou; James M Henning; Andriana A Hohlbauch; Margaret S Richards; Nicole S Herzog; Lior S Lewensztain; Joshua J Ofman Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: C P Wen; T Y Cheng; C-L Lin; H-N Wu; D T Levy; L-K Chen; C-C Hsu; M P Eriksen; H-J Yang; S P Tsai Journal: Tob Control Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: M Femi Ayadi; E Kathleen Adams; Cathy L Melvin; Carole C Rivera; Cecelia A Gaffney; Joanne Pike; Vance Rabius; Janice N Ferguson Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2006 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Jennifer W Kahende; Brett R Loomis; Bishwa Adhikari; Latisha Marshall Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2008-12-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Catherine Chamberlain; Alison O'Mara-Eves; Sandy Oliver; Jenny R Caird; Susan M Perlen; Sandra J Eades; James Thomas Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2013-10-23