Building evidence for peer-led interventions: assessing the cost of the Adolescent Asthma Action program in Australia
Michael E. Otim A B D , Ranmalie Jayasinha A , Hayley Forbes A and Smita Shah A CA Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Sydney Medical School, Edward Ford Building A27, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, PO Box 968, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia.
C Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit, Western Sydney Local Health District, PO Box 533, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: michael.otim@acu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 21(4) 438-443 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14066
Submitted: 17 April 2014 Accepted: 19 August 2014 Published: 18 September 2014
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic illness among adolescents in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents, in particular, face substantial inequalities in asthma-related outcomes. Triple A (Adolescent Asthma Action) is a peer-led education intervention, which aims to improve asthma self-management and reduce the uptake of smoking among adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the cost of implementing the Triple A program in Australia. Standard economic costing methods were used. It involved identifying the resources that were utilised (such as personnel and program materials), measuring them and then valuing them. We later performed sensitivity analysis so as to identify the cost drivers and a stress test to test how the intervention can perform when some inputs are lacking. Results indicate that the estimated cost of implementing the Triple A program in five schools was $41 060, assuming that the opportunity cost of all the participants and venues was accounted for. This translated to $8212 per school or $50 per target student. From sensitivity analysis and a stress test, it was identified that the cost of the intervention (in practice) was $14 per student. This appears to be a modest cost, given the burden of asthma. In conclusion, the Triple A program is an affordable intervention to implement in high schools. The potential asthma cost savings due to the program are significant. If the Triple A program is implemented nation-wide, the benefits would be substantial.
Additional keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, asthma self-management, economic assessment, health education, health promotion.
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