Table 2:

Economic modelling analyses of parenting, early years and school-based interventions promoting mental health and well-being

Bibliographic informationIntervention (I), comparator (C) and study populationSources of model parameters

Type of model and timeframe
Intervention costPerspective/price yearEconomic results
Study populationEconomic analysis
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Nurse–Family Partnership for low-income women: intensive visiting by nurses during pregnancy and the first 2 years after birth to promote child's development and provide instructive parenting skills to the parentsSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. Five trials identifiedDecision analytical modellingCost of programme over 2.5 years: $9118SocietalTotal benefits $26 298. Net benefits $17 180. Benefit to cost ratio: 2.88 to 1 including primary recipient crime avoided: $14 476; secondary programme recipient: $1961;child abuse and neglect: $5686; alcohol: $541; illicit drugs: $309
C: Screening for developmental problems at 2 years; free transportation to regular prenatal and well-child care local clinicsCost of programme from Olds (2002)To age 742003. USD
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionCBA
Parents and children. Low income and at-risk pregnant women bearing their first child
(Aos et al., 2004), USA programmesI: Home visiting programmes for at-risk. Mothers and children: including instruction in child development and health, referrals for service or social and emotional supportSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970Decision analytical modelling;Costs: $4892SocietalBenefits: $10 969. Net benefits: $6077 including child abuse and neglect avoided: $1126; alcohol: $107; illicit drugs (disordered use): $61
C: Usual care13 trials identifiedTo age 74Synthesis of cost from a number of different home visiting projects2003. USD
Cost of programme from multiple papers in literature reviewCBA
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective action
Mothers considered to be at risk for parenting problems in terms of age, marital status and education, low income, mothers testing positive for drugs at the child's birth
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Comprehensive school programme to reduce risk and bolster protective factors to prevent problem behaviours. Includes classroom, school and family involvement elements. Known as Caring School Community (CSC) or Child Development ProjectSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Battistich et al. (1996)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme per participant $16 over 2 years (based on personal communication with programme co-ordinator)SocietalCosts: $16; benefits: $448
C: No interventionProgramme costs from personal communication with programme co-ordinatorTo age 742003. USDBenefit to cost ratio: 28.42 to 1
CBANo mental health impacts included in benefits which covers drugs and alcohol only
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Systematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Kellam and Anthony (1998) focusing solely on tobaccoDecision analytical modellingCosts: $8SocietalBenefit to cost ratio: 25.92 to 1. But benefits only look at tobacco consumption avoided
C: No interventionReview of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionTo age 74Benefits: $2042003 USD
Hypothetical children in first 2 years of schoolCBA
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Seattle Social Development project: to train teachers to promote students ‘bonding to the school, to affect attitudes to school, behaviour in school, plus parent training'. Delivered for 6 yearsSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Hawkins et al., (1999, 2005)Decision analytical modellingCosts: $4590SocietalBenefits: $14 426
C: No intervention604 children from age 6 in high-crime urban areas in non-randomized controlled empirical studyTo age 742003 USDBenefit to cost ratio: 3.14 to 1.
CBABenefits: crime: $3957; high school graduation: n: $10 320; K-12 grade repetition: $150
(Embry, 2002), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Ad hoc review of literature on effectiveness. Additional data on budgetary impact from unrelated work in WyomingDecision analytical modellingImplementation cost: $200 per child per year versus medication costs: $70 per child per month for children with behavioural problemsHealth and educationIf GBG cost $200 per child per year to implement for 5000 5 and 6 year olds, there would be potential costs averted of $15–20 million from a 5% reduction in special education placement, 2% reduction in involvement with corrections and 4% reduction in lifetime prevalence of tobacco use
C: No interventionHypothetical 5000 5- and 6-year-old children at school in WyomingLifetimeUSD. Price year not stated
COA
(Hummel et al., 2009), EnglandI: Whole school intervention to promote emotional and social well-being in secondary schools. Involves classroom intervention and peer mediationEffectiveness data taken from paper identified through systematic review (Evers et al., 2007)Decision analytical modellingThe estimated net total cost for a school with 600 pupils aged 11–16 is £9300 per year, or £15.50 per pupil per yearEducation sector;If intervention can reduce victimization by 15%, then cost per QALY gained of £9600. At a threshold of £20 000 it is 82% probable that the intervention is cost-effective, and at a threshold of £30 000, 92% probable
C: No interventionHypothetical 600 school children aged 11–16LifetimeClassroom intervention: £7300; peer mediation: £3900; teacher time saved £1900GBP. Price year not stated
CUA
COA
(Karoly et al., 1998, 2005), USA, Outcome data from Olds et al., (1997)I: Home visiting programme; social support for mother until child is age 2Data for high- and low-risk women taken from original outcome data of a Nurse–Family Partnership evaluation by Olds et al. (1997)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme: $7271SocietalBenefit to cost ratio:
C: No interventionCosting analysis builds on previous costings reported by Olds et al. (1993)LifetimeMonetary benefits to society include costs averted to public purse (including health and crime), additional income of mothers, reduction in victim costs of crime2003 USDHigh risk: 5.7 to 1 ($41 419: 7271)
400 new mothers. Emphasis on teenage, single- and low-income mothers; but also other mothersCBALow risk: 1.26 to 1 ($9151: $7271)
(McCabe, 2008), EnglandI: Universally delivered school-based PATH programme with three sessions per week of teacher led intervention; 10 weeks parent trainingSystematic review of literature to identify (limited) effectiveness dataDecision analytical modellingCost per child per annum £125Education sectorIf positive impacts on emotional functioning only is £10 594 per QALY gained. Probability that cost per QALY is <£30 000 per QALY is 65%
C: No interventionHypothetical cohort of children aged 73 years2008 GBPIf the intervention impacts upon school performance (cognitive functioning) and emotional functioning, then £5500 per QALY. Prob QALY being <£30 000 is 66%
CUA
(Mihalopoulos et al., 2007) and Turner et al. (2004), AustraliaTriple P-Positive Parenting Programme, compared with no interventionSystematic review that identified five RCTs on Triple PDecision analytical modellingThe annual cost of implementing‘Government as third part funder’ within health sector and criminal justice and educationTriple P has better outcomes and costs are outweighed by conduct disorder averted as long as prevalence of conduct disorder at least 7%
Level 1: media and communication strategy targeting all parentsChildren aged 2–12 years at risk of developing conduct disordersTo age 28Triple P in Queensland to 572 701 children aged 2–12 years would be: AUD 19.7 million2003 AUDTo pay for itself 1.5% of cases of conduct disorder would have to be averted per annum
Level 2: 1–2 session intervention;CEAThe cost for each level of intervention would be
Level 3: more intensive but brief 4-session primary care intervention;COALevel 1: AUD 240 000
Level 4: 8–10 session active skills training programme;Level 2: AUD 5.8 million
Level 5 targets parenting, partner skills, emotion coping skills and attribution retraining for the highest risk familiesLevel 3: AUD 5.7 million
Level 4: AUD 4 million
Level 5: AUD 3.6
The average cost per child: AUD 34
The cost of implementing Triple P to one cohort of 2 year olds would be AUD 9.6 million. The average cost per child in the cohort would be AUD 51
Bibliographic informationIntervention (I), comparator (C) and study populationSources of model parameters

Type of model and timeframe
Intervention costPerspective/price yearEconomic results
Study populationEconomic analysis
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Nurse–Family Partnership for low-income women: intensive visiting by nurses during pregnancy and the first 2 years after birth to promote child's development and provide instructive parenting skills to the parentsSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. Five trials identifiedDecision analytical modellingCost of programme over 2.5 years: $9118SocietalTotal benefits $26 298. Net benefits $17 180. Benefit to cost ratio: 2.88 to 1 including primary recipient crime avoided: $14 476; secondary programme recipient: $1961;child abuse and neglect: $5686; alcohol: $541; illicit drugs: $309
C: Screening for developmental problems at 2 years; free transportation to regular prenatal and well-child care local clinicsCost of programme from Olds (2002)To age 742003. USD
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionCBA
Parents and children. Low income and at-risk pregnant women bearing their first child
(Aos et al., 2004), USA programmesI: Home visiting programmes for at-risk. Mothers and children: including instruction in child development and health, referrals for service or social and emotional supportSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970Decision analytical modelling;Costs: $4892SocietalBenefits: $10 969. Net benefits: $6077 including child abuse and neglect avoided: $1126; alcohol: $107; illicit drugs (disordered use): $61
C: Usual care13 trials identifiedTo age 74Synthesis of cost from a number of different home visiting projects2003. USD
Cost of programme from multiple papers in literature reviewCBA
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective action
Mothers considered to be at risk for parenting problems in terms of age, marital status and education, low income, mothers testing positive for drugs at the child's birth
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Comprehensive school programme to reduce risk and bolster protective factors to prevent problem behaviours. Includes classroom, school and family involvement elements. Known as Caring School Community (CSC) or Child Development ProjectSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Battistich et al. (1996)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme per participant $16 over 2 years (based on personal communication with programme co-ordinator)SocietalCosts: $16; benefits: $448
C: No interventionProgramme costs from personal communication with programme co-ordinatorTo age 742003. USDBenefit to cost ratio: 28.42 to 1
CBANo mental health impacts included in benefits which covers drugs and alcohol only
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Systematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Kellam and Anthony (1998) focusing solely on tobaccoDecision analytical modellingCosts: $8SocietalBenefit to cost ratio: 25.92 to 1. But benefits only look at tobacco consumption avoided
C: No interventionReview of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionTo age 74Benefits: $2042003 USD
Hypothetical children in first 2 years of schoolCBA
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Seattle Social Development project: to train teachers to promote students ‘bonding to the school, to affect attitudes to school, behaviour in school, plus parent training'. Delivered for 6 yearsSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Hawkins et al., (1999, 2005)Decision analytical modellingCosts: $4590SocietalBenefits: $14 426
C: No intervention604 children from age 6 in high-crime urban areas in non-randomized controlled empirical studyTo age 742003 USDBenefit to cost ratio: 3.14 to 1.
CBABenefits: crime: $3957; high school graduation: n: $10 320; K-12 grade repetition: $150
(Embry, 2002), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Ad hoc review of literature on effectiveness. Additional data on budgetary impact from unrelated work in WyomingDecision analytical modellingImplementation cost: $200 per child per year versus medication costs: $70 per child per month for children with behavioural problemsHealth and educationIf GBG cost $200 per child per year to implement for 5000 5 and 6 year olds, there would be potential costs averted of $15–20 million from a 5% reduction in special education placement, 2% reduction in involvement with corrections and 4% reduction in lifetime prevalence of tobacco use
C: No interventionHypothetical 5000 5- and 6-year-old children at school in WyomingLifetimeUSD. Price year not stated
COA
(Hummel et al., 2009), EnglandI: Whole school intervention to promote emotional and social well-being in secondary schools. Involves classroom intervention and peer mediationEffectiveness data taken from paper identified through systematic review (Evers et al., 2007)Decision analytical modellingThe estimated net total cost for a school with 600 pupils aged 11–16 is £9300 per year, or £15.50 per pupil per yearEducation sector;If intervention can reduce victimization by 15%, then cost per QALY gained of £9600. At a threshold of £20 000 it is 82% probable that the intervention is cost-effective, and at a threshold of £30 000, 92% probable
C: No interventionHypothetical 600 school children aged 11–16LifetimeClassroom intervention: £7300; peer mediation: £3900; teacher time saved £1900GBP. Price year not stated
CUA
COA
(Karoly et al., 1998, 2005), USA, Outcome data from Olds et al., (1997)I: Home visiting programme; social support for mother until child is age 2Data for high- and low-risk women taken from original outcome data of a Nurse–Family Partnership evaluation by Olds et al. (1997)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme: $7271SocietalBenefit to cost ratio:
C: No interventionCosting analysis builds on previous costings reported by Olds et al. (1993)LifetimeMonetary benefits to society include costs averted to public purse (including health and crime), additional income of mothers, reduction in victim costs of crime2003 USDHigh risk: 5.7 to 1 ($41 419: 7271)
400 new mothers. Emphasis on teenage, single- and low-income mothers; but also other mothersCBALow risk: 1.26 to 1 ($9151: $7271)
(McCabe, 2008), EnglandI: Universally delivered school-based PATH programme with three sessions per week of teacher led intervention; 10 weeks parent trainingSystematic review of literature to identify (limited) effectiveness dataDecision analytical modellingCost per child per annum £125Education sectorIf positive impacts on emotional functioning only is £10 594 per QALY gained. Probability that cost per QALY is <£30 000 per QALY is 65%
C: No interventionHypothetical cohort of children aged 73 years2008 GBPIf the intervention impacts upon school performance (cognitive functioning) and emotional functioning, then £5500 per QALY. Prob QALY being <£30 000 is 66%
CUA
(Mihalopoulos et al., 2007) and Turner et al. (2004), AustraliaTriple P-Positive Parenting Programme, compared with no interventionSystematic review that identified five RCTs on Triple PDecision analytical modellingThe annual cost of implementing‘Government as third part funder’ within health sector and criminal justice and educationTriple P has better outcomes and costs are outweighed by conduct disorder averted as long as prevalence of conduct disorder at least 7%
Level 1: media and communication strategy targeting all parentsChildren aged 2–12 years at risk of developing conduct disordersTo age 28Triple P in Queensland to 572 701 children aged 2–12 years would be: AUD 19.7 million2003 AUDTo pay for itself 1.5% of cases of conduct disorder would have to be averted per annum
Level 2: 1–2 session intervention;CEAThe cost for each level of intervention would be
Level 3: more intensive but brief 4-session primary care intervention;COALevel 1: AUD 240 000
Level 4: 8–10 session active skills training programme;Level 2: AUD 5.8 million
Level 5 targets parenting, partner skills, emotion coping skills and attribution retraining for the highest risk familiesLevel 3: AUD 5.7 million
Level 4: AUD 4 million
Level 5: AUD 3.6
The average cost per child: AUD 34
The cost of implementing Triple P to one cohort of 2 year olds would be AUD 9.6 million. The average cost per child in the cohort would be AUD 51

RCT, randomized controlled trial; CBA, cost–benefit analysis; CEA, cost-effectiveness analysis; CCA, cost-consequences analysis; CUA, cost–utility analysis; COA, cost-offset analysis.

Table 2:

Economic modelling analyses of parenting, early years and school-based interventions promoting mental health and well-being

Bibliographic informationIntervention (I), comparator (C) and study populationSources of model parameters

Type of model and timeframe
Intervention costPerspective/price yearEconomic results
Study populationEconomic analysis
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Nurse–Family Partnership for low-income women: intensive visiting by nurses during pregnancy and the first 2 years after birth to promote child's development and provide instructive parenting skills to the parentsSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. Five trials identifiedDecision analytical modellingCost of programme over 2.5 years: $9118SocietalTotal benefits $26 298. Net benefits $17 180. Benefit to cost ratio: 2.88 to 1 including primary recipient crime avoided: $14 476; secondary programme recipient: $1961;child abuse and neglect: $5686; alcohol: $541; illicit drugs: $309
C: Screening for developmental problems at 2 years; free transportation to regular prenatal and well-child care local clinicsCost of programme from Olds (2002)To age 742003. USD
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionCBA
Parents and children. Low income and at-risk pregnant women bearing their first child
(Aos et al., 2004), USA programmesI: Home visiting programmes for at-risk. Mothers and children: including instruction in child development and health, referrals for service or social and emotional supportSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970Decision analytical modelling;Costs: $4892SocietalBenefits: $10 969. Net benefits: $6077 including child abuse and neglect avoided: $1126; alcohol: $107; illicit drugs (disordered use): $61
C: Usual care13 trials identifiedTo age 74Synthesis of cost from a number of different home visiting projects2003. USD
Cost of programme from multiple papers in literature reviewCBA
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective action
Mothers considered to be at risk for parenting problems in terms of age, marital status and education, low income, mothers testing positive for drugs at the child's birth
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Comprehensive school programme to reduce risk and bolster protective factors to prevent problem behaviours. Includes classroom, school and family involvement elements. Known as Caring School Community (CSC) or Child Development ProjectSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Battistich et al. (1996)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme per participant $16 over 2 years (based on personal communication with programme co-ordinator)SocietalCosts: $16; benefits: $448
C: No interventionProgramme costs from personal communication with programme co-ordinatorTo age 742003. USDBenefit to cost ratio: 28.42 to 1
CBANo mental health impacts included in benefits which covers drugs and alcohol only
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Systematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Kellam and Anthony (1998) focusing solely on tobaccoDecision analytical modellingCosts: $8SocietalBenefit to cost ratio: 25.92 to 1. But benefits only look at tobacco consumption avoided
C: No interventionReview of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionTo age 74Benefits: $2042003 USD
Hypothetical children in first 2 years of schoolCBA
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Seattle Social Development project: to train teachers to promote students ‘bonding to the school, to affect attitudes to school, behaviour in school, plus parent training'. Delivered for 6 yearsSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Hawkins et al., (1999, 2005)Decision analytical modellingCosts: $4590SocietalBenefits: $14 426
C: No intervention604 children from age 6 in high-crime urban areas in non-randomized controlled empirical studyTo age 742003 USDBenefit to cost ratio: 3.14 to 1.
CBABenefits: crime: $3957; high school graduation: n: $10 320; K-12 grade repetition: $150
(Embry, 2002), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Ad hoc review of literature on effectiveness. Additional data on budgetary impact from unrelated work in WyomingDecision analytical modellingImplementation cost: $200 per child per year versus medication costs: $70 per child per month for children with behavioural problemsHealth and educationIf GBG cost $200 per child per year to implement for 5000 5 and 6 year olds, there would be potential costs averted of $15–20 million from a 5% reduction in special education placement, 2% reduction in involvement with corrections and 4% reduction in lifetime prevalence of tobacco use
C: No interventionHypothetical 5000 5- and 6-year-old children at school in WyomingLifetimeUSD. Price year not stated
COA
(Hummel et al., 2009), EnglandI: Whole school intervention to promote emotional and social well-being in secondary schools. Involves classroom intervention and peer mediationEffectiveness data taken from paper identified through systematic review (Evers et al., 2007)Decision analytical modellingThe estimated net total cost for a school with 600 pupils aged 11–16 is £9300 per year, or £15.50 per pupil per yearEducation sector;If intervention can reduce victimization by 15%, then cost per QALY gained of £9600. At a threshold of £20 000 it is 82% probable that the intervention is cost-effective, and at a threshold of £30 000, 92% probable
C: No interventionHypothetical 600 school children aged 11–16LifetimeClassroom intervention: £7300; peer mediation: £3900; teacher time saved £1900GBP. Price year not stated
CUA
COA
(Karoly et al., 1998, 2005), USA, Outcome data from Olds et al., (1997)I: Home visiting programme; social support for mother until child is age 2Data for high- and low-risk women taken from original outcome data of a Nurse–Family Partnership evaluation by Olds et al. (1997)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme: $7271SocietalBenefit to cost ratio:
C: No interventionCosting analysis builds on previous costings reported by Olds et al. (1993)LifetimeMonetary benefits to society include costs averted to public purse (including health and crime), additional income of mothers, reduction in victim costs of crime2003 USDHigh risk: 5.7 to 1 ($41 419: 7271)
400 new mothers. Emphasis on teenage, single- and low-income mothers; but also other mothersCBALow risk: 1.26 to 1 ($9151: $7271)
(McCabe, 2008), EnglandI: Universally delivered school-based PATH programme with three sessions per week of teacher led intervention; 10 weeks parent trainingSystematic review of literature to identify (limited) effectiveness dataDecision analytical modellingCost per child per annum £125Education sectorIf positive impacts on emotional functioning only is £10 594 per QALY gained. Probability that cost per QALY is <£30 000 per QALY is 65%
C: No interventionHypothetical cohort of children aged 73 years2008 GBPIf the intervention impacts upon school performance (cognitive functioning) and emotional functioning, then £5500 per QALY. Prob QALY being <£30 000 is 66%
CUA
(Mihalopoulos et al., 2007) and Turner et al. (2004), AustraliaTriple P-Positive Parenting Programme, compared with no interventionSystematic review that identified five RCTs on Triple PDecision analytical modellingThe annual cost of implementing‘Government as third part funder’ within health sector and criminal justice and educationTriple P has better outcomes and costs are outweighed by conduct disorder averted as long as prevalence of conduct disorder at least 7%
Level 1: media and communication strategy targeting all parentsChildren aged 2–12 years at risk of developing conduct disordersTo age 28Triple P in Queensland to 572 701 children aged 2–12 years would be: AUD 19.7 million2003 AUDTo pay for itself 1.5% of cases of conduct disorder would have to be averted per annum
Level 2: 1–2 session intervention;CEAThe cost for each level of intervention would be
Level 3: more intensive but brief 4-session primary care intervention;COALevel 1: AUD 240 000
Level 4: 8–10 session active skills training programme;Level 2: AUD 5.8 million
Level 5 targets parenting, partner skills, emotion coping skills and attribution retraining for the highest risk familiesLevel 3: AUD 5.7 million
Level 4: AUD 4 million
Level 5: AUD 3.6
The average cost per child: AUD 34
The cost of implementing Triple P to one cohort of 2 year olds would be AUD 9.6 million. The average cost per child in the cohort would be AUD 51
Bibliographic informationIntervention (I), comparator (C) and study populationSources of model parameters

Type of model and timeframe
Intervention costPerspective/price yearEconomic results
Study populationEconomic analysis
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Nurse–Family Partnership for low-income women: intensive visiting by nurses during pregnancy and the first 2 years after birth to promote child's development and provide instructive parenting skills to the parentsSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. Five trials identifiedDecision analytical modellingCost of programme over 2.5 years: $9118SocietalTotal benefits $26 298. Net benefits $17 180. Benefit to cost ratio: 2.88 to 1 including primary recipient crime avoided: $14 476; secondary programme recipient: $1961;child abuse and neglect: $5686; alcohol: $541; illicit drugs: $309
C: Screening for developmental problems at 2 years; free transportation to regular prenatal and well-child care local clinicsCost of programme from Olds (2002)To age 742003. USD
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionCBA
Parents and children. Low income and at-risk pregnant women bearing their first child
(Aos et al., 2004), USA programmesI: Home visiting programmes for at-risk. Mothers and children: including instruction in child development and health, referrals for service or social and emotional supportSystematic review and meta-analysis of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970Decision analytical modelling;Costs: $4892SocietalBenefits: $10 969. Net benefits: $6077 including child abuse and neglect avoided: $1126; alcohol: $107; illicit drugs (disordered use): $61
C: Usual care13 trials identifiedTo age 74Synthesis of cost from a number of different home visiting projects2003. USD
Cost of programme from multiple papers in literature reviewCBA
Review of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective action
Mothers considered to be at risk for parenting problems in terms of age, marital status and education, low income, mothers testing positive for drugs at the child's birth
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Comprehensive school programme to reduce risk and bolster protective factors to prevent problem behaviours. Includes classroom, school and family involvement elements. Known as Caring School Community (CSC) or Child Development ProjectSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Battistich et al. (1996)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme per participant $16 over 2 years (based on personal communication with programme co-ordinator)SocietalCosts: $16; benefits: $448
C: No interventionProgramme costs from personal communication with programme co-ordinatorTo age 742003. USDBenefit to cost ratio: 28.42 to 1
CBANo mental health impacts included in benefits which covers drugs and alcohol only
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Systematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Kellam and Anthony (1998) focusing solely on tobaccoDecision analytical modellingCosts: $8SocietalBenefit to cost ratio: 25.92 to 1. But benefits only look at tobacco consumption avoided
C: No interventionReview of literature and statistics to estimate cost offsets of effective actionTo age 74Benefits: $2042003 USD
Hypothetical children in first 2 years of schoolCBA
(Aos et al., 2004), USAI: Seattle Social Development project: to train teachers to promote students ‘bonding to the school, to affect attitudes to school, behaviour in school, plus parent training'. Delivered for 6 yearsSystematic review of evaluations of trials of preventive programmes conducted since 1970. One trial identified. Hawkins et al., (1999, 2005)Decision analytical modellingCosts: $4590SocietalBenefits: $14 426
C: No intervention604 children from age 6 in high-crime urban areas in non-randomized controlled empirical studyTo age 742003 USDBenefit to cost ratio: 3.14 to 1.
CBABenefits: crime: $3957; high school graduation: n: $10 320; K-12 grade repetition: $150
(Embry, 2002), USAI: ‘Behavioural Vaccine’ to encourage good behaviour at school. A ‘Good Behaviour Game’ is regularly played with prizes given to winning teams (who have better behaviour)Ad hoc review of literature on effectiveness. Additional data on budgetary impact from unrelated work in WyomingDecision analytical modellingImplementation cost: $200 per child per year versus medication costs: $70 per child per month for children with behavioural problemsHealth and educationIf GBG cost $200 per child per year to implement for 5000 5 and 6 year olds, there would be potential costs averted of $15–20 million from a 5% reduction in special education placement, 2% reduction in involvement with corrections and 4% reduction in lifetime prevalence of tobacco use
C: No interventionHypothetical 5000 5- and 6-year-old children at school in WyomingLifetimeUSD. Price year not stated
COA
(Hummel et al., 2009), EnglandI: Whole school intervention to promote emotional and social well-being in secondary schools. Involves classroom intervention and peer mediationEffectiveness data taken from paper identified through systematic review (Evers et al., 2007)Decision analytical modellingThe estimated net total cost for a school with 600 pupils aged 11–16 is £9300 per year, or £15.50 per pupil per yearEducation sector;If intervention can reduce victimization by 15%, then cost per QALY gained of £9600. At a threshold of £20 000 it is 82% probable that the intervention is cost-effective, and at a threshold of £30 000, 92% probable
C: No interventionHypothetical 600 school children aged 11–16LifetimeClassroom intervention: £7300; peer mediation: £3900; teacher time saved £1900GBP. Price year not stated
CUA
COA
(Karoly et al., 1998, 2005), USA, Outcome data from Olds et al., (1997)I: Home visiting programme; social support for mother until child is age 2Data for high- and low-risk women taken from original outcome data of a Nurse–Family Partnership evaluation by Olds et al. (1997)Decision analytical modellingCost of programme: $7271SocietalBenefit to cost ratio:
C: No interventionCosting analysis builds on previous costings reported by Olds et al. (1993)LifetimeMonetary benefits to society include costs averted to public purse (including health and crime), additional income of mothers, reduction in victim costs of crime2003 USDHigh risk: 5.7 to 1 ($41 419: 7271)
400 new mothers. Emphasis on teenage, single- and low-income mothers; but also other mothersCBALow risk: 1.26 to 1 ($9151: $7271)
(McCabe, 2008), EnglandI: Universally delivered school-based PATH programme with three sessions per week of teacher led intervention; 10 weeks parent trainingSystematic review of literature to identify (limited) effectiveness dataDecision analytical modellingCost per child per annum £125Education sectorIf positive impacts on emotional functioning only is £10 594 per QALY gained. Probability that cost per QALY is <£30 000 per QALY is 65%
C: No interventionHypothetical cohort of children aged 73 years2008 GBPIf the intervention impacts upon school performance (cognitive functioning) and emotional functioning, then £5500 per QALY. Prob QALY being <£30 000 is 66%
CUA
(Mihalopoulos et al., 2007) and Turner et al. (2004), AustraliaTriple P-Positive Parenting Programme, compared with no interventionSystematic review that identified five RCTs on Triple PDecision analytical modellingThe annual cost of implementing‘Government as third part funder’ within health sector and criminal justice and educationTriple P has better outcomes and costs are outweighed by conduct disorder averted as long as prevalence of conduct disorder at least 7%
Level 1: media and communication strategy targeting all parentsChildren aged 2–12 years at risk of developing conduct disordersTo age 28Triple P in Queensland to 572 701 children aged 2–12 years would be: AUD 19.7 million2003 AUDTo pay for itself 1.5% of cases of conduct disorder would have to be averted per annum
Level 2: 1–2 session intervention;CEAThe cost for each level of intervention would be
Level 3: more intensive but brief 4-session primary care intervention;COALevel 1: AUD 240 000
Level 4: 8–10 session active skills training programme;Level 2: AUD 5.8 million
Level 5 targets parenting, partner skills, emotion coping skills and attribution retraining for the highest risk familiesLevel 3: AUD 5.7 million
Level 4: AUD 4 million
Level 5: AUD 3.6
The average cost per child: AUD 34
The cost of implementing Triple P to one cohort of 2 year olds would be AUD 9.6 million. The average cost per child in the cohort would be AUD 51

RCT, randomized controlled trial; CBA, cost–benefit analysis; CEA, cost-effectiveness analysis; CCA, cost-consequences analysis; CUA, cost–utility analysis; COA, cost-offset analysis.

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