Cost-effectiveness of physical activity counselling in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cost-effectiveness of the 'Green Prescription' physical activity counselling programme in general practice.


METHODS
Prospective cost-effectiveness study undertaken as part of a cluster randomised controlled trial with 12-month follow-up of 878 'less-active' patients aged 40-79 years in 42 general practices in the Waikato. The intervention was verbal advice and a written exercise prescription given by general practitioners, with telephone exercise specialist follow-up compared with usual care. Main outcome measures included cost per total and leisure-time physical activity gain from health-funders' and societal perspectives.


RESULTS
Significant increases in physical activity were found in the randomised controlled trial. Programme-cost per patient was NZ170 dollars from a funder's perspective. The monthly cost-effectiveness ratio for total energy expenditure achieved was 11 dollars per kcal/kg/day. The incremental cost of converting one additional 'sedentary' adult to an 'active' state over a twelve-month period was NZ1,756 dollars in programme costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Verbal and written physical activity advice given in general practice with telephone follow-up is an inexpensive way of increasing activity for sedentary people, and has the potential to have significant economic impact through reduction in cardiovascular and other morbidity and mortality.
Elley
Raina
R
Department of General Practice, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand. c.elley@wnmeds.ac.nz
Kerse
Ngaire
N
Arroll
Bruce
B
Swinburn
Boyd
B
Ashton
Toni
T
Robinson
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000191:economics; D015444:Exercise; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies