Cost-effectiveness of self-help smokeless tobacco cessation programs
Laura Akers1, Herbert H Severson, Judy A Andrews
1Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. lauraa@ori.org
Summary
Low-intensity interventions for quitting smokeless tobacco are cost-effective. Assisted self-help and manual-only programs offer value, with the manual-only approach being more cost-effective if spontaneous quit rates are low.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Smokeless tobacco use presents a significant public health challenge.
- Effective and affordable interventions are needed to support cessation.
- Low-intensity programs offer a scalable approach to tobacco cessation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two low-intensity smokeless tobacco cessation programs.
- To compare a manual-only intervention with an assisted self-help intervention.
- To determine the conditions under which each intervention is most economically viable.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 1,069 participants was conducted.
- Cost data were collected for manual-only and assisted self-help interventions.
- Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and threshold analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Assisted self-help averaged $56 per participant; manual-only averaged $20.
- Incremental cost per quit for assisted self-help ranged from $922 to $1,758.
- Manual-only was more cost-effective if spontaneous quit rates were below 3.4%.
Conclusions:
- Both low-intensity interventions for smokeless tobacco cessation are reasonable uses of healthcare resources.
- Assisted self-help, including counseling, demonstrates cost-effectiveness.
- Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the manual-only approach compared to unaided quitting.
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