title: Free nicotine replacement therapy programs vs implementing smoke-free workplaces: a cost-effectiveness comparison.
abstract: We compared the cost-effectiveness of a free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) program with a statewide smoke-free workplace policy in Minnesota. We conducted 1-year simulations of costs and benefits. The number of individuals who quit smoking and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were the measures of benefits. After 1 year, a NRT program generated 18,500 quitters at a cost of 7020 dollars per quitter (4440 dollars per QALY), and a smoke-free workplace policy generated 10,400 quitters at a cost of 799 dollars per quitter (506 dollars per QALY). Smoke-free work-place policies are about 9 times more cost-effective per new nonsmoker than free NRT programs are. Smoke-free workplace policies should be a public health funding priority, even when the primary goal is to promote individual smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Stanton A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Glantz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005380:Financing, Government; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013219:State Government; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine