Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial

M.F. van Wier; J.C. Dekkers; J.E. Bosmans; M.W. Heijmans; I.J.M. Hendriksen; N.P. Pronk; W. van Mechelen; M.W. van Tulder

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial

M.F. van Wier, J.C. Dekkers, J.E. Bosmans, M.W. Heijmans, I.J.M. Hendriksen, N.P. Pronk, W. van Mechelen, M.W. van Tulder

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

RESULTS: At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.

Original language	English
Article number	112
Journal	International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-112
Publication status	Published - 11 Sept 2012

Keywords

Adult
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Costs and Cost Analysis
Counseling
Electronic Mail
Female
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Humans
Life Style
Male
Middle Aged
Overweight
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Telephone
Weight Reduction Programs
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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van Wier, M. F., Dekkers, J. C., Bosmans, J. E., Heijmans, M. W., Hendriksen, I. J. M., Pronk, N. P., van Mechelen, W., & van Tulder, M. W. (2012). Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9, Article 112. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

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title = "Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective.METHODS: A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.RESULTS: At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.",

keywords = "Adult, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Costs and Cost Analysis, Counseling, Electronic Mail, Female, Health Behavior, Health Promotion, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Overweight, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Telephone, Weight Reduction Programs, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't",

author = "{van Wier}, M.F. and J.C. Dekkers and J.E. Bosmans and M.W. Heijmans and I.J.M. Hendriksen and N.P. Pronk and {van Mechelen}, W. and {van Tulder}, M.W.",

year = "2012",

month = sep,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1186/1479-5868-9-112",

language = "English",

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van Wier, MF, Dekkers, JC, Bosmans, JE, Heijmans, MW, Hendriksen, IJM, Pronk, NP, van Mechelen, W & van Tulder, MW 2012, 'Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 9, 112. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial. / van Wier, M.F.; Dekkers, J.C.; Bosmans, J.E. et al.
In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol. 9, 112, 11.09.2012.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees

T2 - a randomized controlled trial

AU - van Wier, M.F.

AU - Dekkers, J.C.

AU - Bosmans, J.E.

AU - Heijmans, M.W.

AU - Hendriksen, I.J.M.

AU - Pronk, N.P.

AU - van Mechelen, W.

AU - van Tulder, M.W.

PY - 2012/9/11

Y1 - 2012/9/11

N2 - BACKGROUND: Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective.METHODS: A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.RESULTS: At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.

AB - BACKGROUND: Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective.METHODS: A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.RESULTS: At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.

KW - Adult

KW - Cost-Benefit Analysis

KW - Costs and Cost Analysis

KW - Counseling

KW - Electronic Mail

KW - Female

KW - Health Behavior

KW - Health Promotion

KW - Humans

KW - Life Style

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Overweight

KW - Quality-Adjusted Life Years

KW - Telephone

KW - Weight Reduction Programs

KW - Journal Article

KW - Randomized Controlled Trial

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

DO - 10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

M3 - Article

C2 - 22967224

SN - 1479-5868

VL - 9

JO - International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

JF - International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

M1 - 112

ER -

Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial

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