title: Economic Evaluation of a Multifaceted Implementation Strategy for the Prevention of Hand Eczema Among Healthcare Workers in Comparison with a Control Group: The Hands4U Study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy for the prevention of hand eczema in comparison with a control group among healthcare workers. A total of 48 departments (n=1,649) were randomly allocated to the implementation strategy or the control group. Data on hand eczema and costs were collected at baseline and every 3 months. Cost-effectiveness analyses were performed using linear multilevel analyses. The probability of the implementation strategy being cost-effective gradually increased with an increasing willingness-to-pay, to 0.84 at a ceiling ratio of €590,000 per person with hand eczema prevented (societal perspective). The implementation strategy appeared to be not cost-effective in comparison with the control group (societal perspective), nor was it cost-beneficial to the employer. However, this study had some methodological problems which should be taken into account when interpreting the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther W C
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Dongen
authors.forename: Cécile R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: Joost W J
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Gulden
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: Johannes R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Anema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000191:economics; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics*; D010174:Pamphlets; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome