Estimating the cost of school sealant programs with minimal data

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• School sealant programs (SSPs) are crucial for preventing dental caries in children.
• Accurate cost assessment is vital for resource allocation and program sustainability in SSPs.
• Existing methods for estimating SSP costs can be resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a methodology for estimating the annual cost of resources utilized by school sealant programs (SSPs).
• To provide standardized cost components and default values to simplify data collection for SSPs.
• To enable SSPs to accurately estimate their operational expenditures with minimal effort.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and expert opinion were used to identify key cost components and measurement units for SSPs.
• Default cost estimates were developed for homogenous items like equipment and reusable instruments.
• Program-specific data collection logs were created for variable costs such as labor, mileage, and administration.

Main Results:

• The annual cost per sealant station was estimated to range from $584 to $797, varying by program characteristics.
• Hypothetical calculations showed hourly labor costs at $77.97 and infection control/supply costs at $5.30 per child.
• The methodology incorporates default costs for supplies and equipment, requiring program-specific data for labor and administrative expenses.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology significantly reduces the data collection burden for SSPs.
• This approach allows for more efficient and accurate annual cost estimation in school sealant programs.
• The findings support improved financial planning and resource management for dental public health initiatives.