Smoke alarm giveaway and installation programs: an economic evaluation
Ying Liu1, Karin A Mack, Shane T Diekman
1National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4770 Buford Hwy. NE, Atlanta GA 30341, USA.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|September 21, 2012
Summary
Smoke alarm programs are cost-effective for reducing fire deaths. Installation programs offer better value than giveaways, with positive net benefits and cost-benefit ratios above 2.0.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Residential fires cause significant injury and death.
- Smoke alarm giveaway and installation programs are common interventions.
- These programs aim to reduce fire-related mortality and morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of smoke alarm programs.
- To model these interventions in a hypothetical high-risk community.
- To inform public health strategies for fire injury prevention.
Main Methods:
- A decision-analysis model was employed.
- Inputs included program costs, effectiveness (QALYs saved), and monetized benefits.
- Literature reviews and expert opinion informed model parameters, with a 3% discount rate.
Main Results:
- Cost-effectiveness ratios were $51,404/QALY (giveaway) and $45,630/QALY (installation).
- Cost-benefit analysis showed positive net benefits (BCR 2.1 for giveaway, 2.3 for installation).
- Key influential factors included alarm functional rates and baseline fire death rates.
Conclusions:
- Both program types are cost-effective compared to other fatal injury interventions.
- Installation programs are more cost-effective per outcome than giveaways.
- These findings support the implementation of smoke alarm initiatives to enhance home safety.
