A cost-analysis of complex workplace nutrition education and environmental dietary modification interventions

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Ann Kirby¹  Aileen Murphy¹  Fiona Geaney²  Sarah Fitzgerald²  Ivan J. Perry² 

[1] Department of Economics, Aras na Laoi, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, 4th Floor, Western Gateway Building, Western Road, Cork, Ireland;

关键词: Cost-analysis;    Micro-costing;    Workplace dietary interventions;    Environmental dietary modification;    Workplace health promotion;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3988-7

 received in 2016-06-21, accepted in 2016-12-22,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe workplace has been identified as a priority setting to positively influence individuals’ dietary behaviours. However, a dearth of evidence exists regarding the costs of implementing and delivering workplace dietary interventions. This study aimed to conduct a cost-analysis of workplace nutrition education and environmental dietary modification interventions from an employer’s perspective.MethodsCost data were obtained from a workplace dietary intervention trial, the Food Choice at Work Study. Micro-costing methods estimated costs associated with implementing and delivering the interventions for 1 year in four multinational manufacturing workplaces in Cork, Ireland. The workplaces were allocated to one of the following groups: control, nutrition education alone, environmental dietary modification alone and nutrition education and environmental dietary modification combined. A total of 850 employees were recruited across the four workplaces. For comparison purposes, total costs were standardised for 500 employees per workplace.ResultsThe combined intervention reported the highest total costs of €31,108. The nutrition education intervention reported total costs of €28,529. Total costs for the environmental dietary modification intervention were €3689. Total costs for the control workplace were zero. The average annual cost per employee was; combined intervention: €62, nutrition education: €57, environmental modification: €7 and control: €0. Nutritionist’s time was the main cost contributor across all interventions, (ranging from 53 to 75% of total costs).ConclusionsWithin multi-component interventions, the relative cost of implementing and delivering nutrition education elements is high compared to environmental modification strategies. A workplace environmental modification strategy added marginal additional cost, relative to the control. Findings will inform employers and public health policy-makers regarding the economic feasibility of implementing and scaling dietary interventions.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials: ISRCTN35108237. Date of registration: The trial was retrospectively registered on 02/07/2013.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017