Cost-outcome analysis in injury prevention and control: eighty-four recent estimates for the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to review cost-outcome analyses in injury prevention and control and estimate associated benefit-cost ratios and cost per quality-adjusted life-year.


METHODS
Medline and Internet search, bibliographic review, and federal agency contacts identified published and unpublished studies from 1987 to 1998 for the United States. Studies of low quality and analyses of occupational, air, rail, and water transport safety programs were excluded.


METHODS
Selected results were recomputed to increase discount rate, benefit category, and benefit estimate comparability and to update injury incidence rates.


RESULTS
More than half of the 84 injury prevention measures reviewed yielded net societal cost savings. Twelve measures had costs that exceeded benefits. Of 33 road safety measures analyzed, 19 yielded net cost savings. Of 34 violence prevention approaches studied, 19 yielded net cost savings, whereas 8 had costs that exceeded benefits. Interventions with the highest benefit-cost ratios included juvenile delinquent therapy programs, fire-safe cigarettes, federal road and traffic safety program funding, lane markers painted on roads, post-mounted reflectors on hazardous curves, safety belts in front seats, safety belt laws with primary enforcement, child safety seats, child bicycle helmets, enforcement of laws against serving alcohol to the intoxicated, substance abuse treatment, brief medical interventions with heavy drinkers, and a comprehensive safe communities program in a low-income neighborhood. Studies of cost-saving measures do not exist for several injury types.


CONCLUSIONS
Injury prevention often can reduce medical costs and save lives. Wider implementation of proven measures is warranted.
Miller
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Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, Landover, Maryland 20785, USA. miller@pire.org
Levy
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D000056:Accident Prevention; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D017046:Cost Savings; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology