A Universal Digital Stress Management Intervention for Employees: Randomized Controlled Trial with Health-Economic...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Occupational Health Psychology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Stress is a prevalent risk factor for numerous physical and mental health disorders.
• Digital interventions for stress management are effective, but their economic benefits require further investigation.
• Limited research exists on the cost-effectiveness of digital stress management programs in the workplace.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit of a digital stress management intervention for employees.
• To compare the digital intervention against a waitlist control (WLC) group over a 6-month period.
• To assess economic merits from both societal and employer perspectives.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 396 German employees assigned to a digital intervention or WLC group.
• The digital intervention comprised 7 sessions and 1 booster session, delivered without direct therapeutic guidance.
• Costing included health service use, out-of-pocket expenses, and productivity losses, analyzed using nonparametric bootstrapping.

Main Results:

• Societally, the digital intervention was likely dominant, with a 56% probability of cost-effectiveness per symptom-free person gained.
• The probability of cost-effectiveness per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained was 55% at €0 willingness-to-pay (WTP), rising to 80% at €20,000 WTP.
• From an employer's perspective, the intervention demonstrated a 78% probability of a positive return on investment.

Conclusions:

• Digital preventive stress management for employees is a cost-effective strategy from a societal viewpoint.
• The intervention offers a favorable return on investment for employers, supporting its adoption in corporate settings.
• Digital solutions present a viable and economically sound approach to managing employee stress.