title: Cost-Effectiveness of Ready for Recess to Promote Physical Activity in Children.
abstract: Many school-based recess interventions have been shown to be effective in increasing physical activity but their relative efficiency compared to other school-based programs are unknown. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of Ready for Recess, a program designed to increase students' physical activity in 2 elementary schools.
  
  
  
  Standard cost-effectiveness analysis method was used from a program's perspective for this study. Program effectiveness was measured as total metabolic equivalent (MET) hours gained. Program costs included equipment, training, and personnel costs during the 1-year intervention. The cost-effectiveness was measured as the ratio of program costs to total MET-hours gained.
  
  
  
  Ready for Recess cost $27,643.97 for the 2 schools in the first year of implementation. Physical activity increased by 1.8 MET-hours per day per student. Approximately 32 cents were spent on Ready for Recess to produce an additional MET-hour per student per school day in the 2008-2009 school year.
  
  
  
  Ready for Recess was cost-effective in its first year of implementation using 35 cents as a benchmark and it was cost-effective relative to other school-based physical activity interventions. The program may be more cost-effective if implemented for a longer time and on a larger scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6406.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4365.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siahpush
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350.
authors.forename: Li-Wu
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Exercise Science and Health Promotion, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huberty
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: cost-effectiveness; metabolic equivalent hours; physical activity; physical activity intervention; school-based physical activity