scholarly journals Potential economic impacts from improving breastfeeding rates in the UK

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Pokhrel ◽  
M A Quigley ◽  
J Fox-Rushby ◽  
F McCormick ◽  
A Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Acute Otitis Media ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Breastfeeding Rates ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Tract Infections

RationaleStudies suggest that increased breastfeeding rates can provide substantial financial savings, but the scale of such savings in the UK is not known.ObjectiveTo calculate potential cost savings attributable to increases in breastfeeding rates from the National Health Service perspective.Design and settingsCost savings focussed on where evidence of health benefit is strongest: reductions in gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections, acute otitis media in infants, necrotising enterocolitis in preterm babies and breast cancer (BC) in women. Savings were estimated using a seven-step framework in which an incidence-based disease model determined the number of cases that could have been avoided if breastfeeding rates were increased. Point estimates of cost savings were subject to a deterministic sensitivity analysis.ResultsTreating the four acute diseases in children costs the UK at least £89 million annually. The 2009–2010 value of lifetime costs of treating maternal BC is estimated at £959 million. Supporting mothers who are exclusively breast feeding at 1 week to continue breast feeding until 4 months can be expected to reduce the incidence of three childhood infectious diseases and save at least £11 million annually. Doubling the proportion of mothers currently breast feeding for 7–18 months in their lifetime is likely to reduce the incidence of maternal BC and save at least £31 million at 2009–2010 value.ConclusionsThe economic impact of low breastfeeding rates is substantial. Investing in services that support women who want to breast feed for longer is potentially cost saving.

scholarly journals Reducing vitamin D requests in a primary care cohort: a quality improvement study

BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101090
Author(s):  
Veena Patel ◽  
Clare Gillies ◽  
Prashanth Patel ◽  
Timothy Davies ◽  
Sajeda Hansdot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Request Form ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Cost Modelling ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundSince 2000, vitamin D requests have increased 2–6 fold with no evidence of a corresponding improvement in the health of the population. The ease of vitamin D requesting may contribue to the rapid rise in its demand and, hence, pragmatic interventions to reduce vitamin D test ordering are warranted.AimTo study the effect on vitamin D requests following a redesign of the electronic forms used in primary care. In addition, any potential harms were studied and the potential cost-savings associated with the intervention were evaluated.Design & settingAn interventional study took place within primary care across Leicestershire, England.MethodThe intervention was a redesign of the electronic laboratory request form for primary care practitioners across the county. Data were collected on vitamin D requests for a 6-month period prior to the change (October 2016 to March 2017) and the corresponding 6-month period post-intervention (October 2017 to March 2018), data were also collected on vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate levels.ResultsThe number of requests for vitamin D decreased by 14 918 (36.2%) following the intervention. Changes in the median calcium and phosphate were not clinically significant. Cost-modelling suggested that if such an intervention was implemented across primary care in the UK, there would be a potential annual saving to the NHS of £38 712 606.ConclusionA simple pragmatic redesign of the electronic request form for vitamin D test led to a significant reduction in vitamin D requests without any adverse effect on the quality of care.

Infant-Feeding Practices and Their Relationship With Diarrheal and Other Diseases in Huascar (Lima), Peru

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Brown ◽  
Robert E. Black ◽  
Guillermo Lopez de Romaña ◽  
Hilary Creed de Kanashiro
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Feeding Practice ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Breast Fed

Longitudinal studies of the feeding practices and morbidity from infectious diseases of 153 Peruvian newborns from an underprivileged, periurban community were completed during their first year of life. Feeding practices were assessed by monthly questionnaires, and illnesses were identified by thrice-weekly, community-based surveillance. All infants were initially breast-fed, but only 12% were exclusively breast-fed at 1 month of age. At 12 months of age, 86% of children still received some breast milk. Incidence and prevalence rates of diarrhea in infants younger than 6 months of age were less among those who were exclusively breast-fed compared with those who received other liquids or artificial milks in addition to breast milk. The diarrheal prevalence rates doubled with the addition of these other fluids (15.2% v 7.1% of days ill, P < .001). Infants for whom breast-feeding was discontinued during the first 6 months had 27.6% diarrheal prevalence. During the second 6 months of life, discontinuation of breast-feeding was also associated with an increased risk of diarrheal incidence and prevalence. Upper and lower respiratory tract infections occurred with lesser prevalence among exclusively breast-fed younger infants. The prevalences of skin infections by category of feeding practice were not as consistent, but exclusively breast-fed infants tended to have fewer skin infections during the initial months of life and older infants who continued to breast-feed had fewer infections than those who did not. None of the results could be explained by differences in the socioeconomic status of the infants' families.

scholarly journals The Potential of Blockchain in Building Construction

Buildings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakaria Dakhli ◽  
Zoubeir Lafhaj ◽  
Alan Mossman
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Costs ◽  
No Value ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Client Group ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Real Estate Company

Construction customers want more complex facilities delivered faster and at a lower cost. Transaction costs account for a significant proportion of each new or refurbished facility (a 2017 report from the Infrastructure Client Group in the UK suggests as high as 50%), yet they contribute no value to the customer. Blockchain is being suggested as a way to reduce transaction costs by eliminating the need for intermediaries to build trust as a prerequisite for successfully executed agreements. This study first describes the thinking that underpins blockchain technology, outlining how it works, and the potential limitations of the technology. Second, using a case study, reviews the potential cost savings from the use of blockchain for a real estate company. The results reveal a potential cost savings from blockchain deployment at 8.3% of the total cost of residential construction, with a standard deviation of 1.26%. Third, we explore the implications, risks and applications of blockchain technology for improving flow in the end-to-end design and construction process and we identify opportunities for future research on blockchain applications in construction.

scholarly journals Rethinking research in breast-feeding: a critique of the evidence base identified in a systematic review of interventions to promote and support breast-feeding

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 726-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Renfrew ◽  
H Spiby ◽  
L D'Souza ◽  
LM Wallace ◽  
L Dyson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjectiveTo appraise critically the relevance and value of the evidence base to promote and support the duration of breast-feeding, with a specific focus on disadvantaged groups.DesignA systematic review was conducted of intervention studies relevant to enhancing the duration of breast-feeding; topics included public health, public policy, clinical issues, and education, training and practice change. A systematic search was conducted. Eighty studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were systematically extracted and analysed. Full results and recommendations are reported elsewhere. Here a critique of the evidence base – topics, quality and gaps – is reported.ResultsMany studies were substantially methodologically flawed, with problems including small sample sizes, inconsistent definitions of breast-feeding and lack of appropriate outcomes. Few were based on relevant theory. Only a small number of included studies (10%) were conducted in the UK. Very few targeted disadvantaged subgroups of women. No studies of policy initiatives or of community interventions were identified. There were virtually no robust studies of interventions to prevent and treat common clinical problems, or of strategies related to women's health issues. Studies of health professional education and practice change were limited. Cost-effectiveness studies were rare.ConclusionsPolicy goals both in the UK and internationally support exclusive breast-feeding until 6 months of age. The evidence base to enable women to continue to breast-feed needs to be strengthened to include robust evaluations of policies and practices related to breast-feeding; a step change is needed in the quality and quantity of research funded.

scholarly journals Web-Face-to-Face Mixed-Mode Design in a Longitudinal Survey: Effects on Participation Rates, Sample Composition, and Costs

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Bianchi ◽  
Silvia Biffignandi ◽  
Peter Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Mode ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Mode Design ◽  
Cumulative Response ◽  
Sample Composition ◽  
The Uk

AbstractSequential mixed-mode designs are increasingly considered as an alternative to interviewer-administered data collection, allowing researchers to take advantage of the benefits of each mode. We assess the effects of the introduction of a sequential web-face-to-face mixed-mode design over three waves of a longitudinal survey in which members were previously interviewed face-to-face. Findings are reported from a large-scale randomised experiment carried out on the UK Household Longitudinal Study. No differences are found between the mixed-mode design and face-to-face design in terms of cumulative response rates and only minimal differences in terms of sample composition. On the other hand, potential cost savings are evident.

scholarly journals Oral health promotion: the economic benefits to the NHS of increased use of sugarfree gum in the UK

BDJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Claxton ◽  
M. Taylor ◽  
E. Kay
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
General Anaesthetic ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Primary Care Settings ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Introduction The effect of sugarfree gum (SFG) on the prevention of dental caries has been established for some time. With increased constraints placed on healthcare budgets, the importance of economic considerations in decision-making about oral health interventions has increased. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential cost savings in dental care associated with increased levels of SFG usage. Methods The analysis examined the amount of money which would hypothetically be saved if the UK 12-year-old population chewed more SFG. The number of sticks chewed per year and the caries risk reduction were modelled to create a dose response curve. The costs of tooth restoration, tooth extraction in primary care settings and under general anaesthetic were considered, and the effects of caries reduction on these costs calculated. Results If all members of the UK 12-year-old population chewed SFG frequently (twice a day), the potential cost savings for the cohort over the course of one year were estimated to range from £1.2 to £3.3 million and if they chewed three times a day, £8.2 million could be saved each year. Sensitivity analyses of the key parameters demonstrated that cost savings would still be likely to be observed even in scenarios with less significant increases in SFG use. Conclusion This study shows that if levels of SFG usage in the teenage population in the UK could be increased, substantial cost savings might be achieved.

scholarly journals Duration of exclusive breast-feeding: introduction of complementary feeding may be necessary before 6 months of age

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 869-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Reilly ◽  
Jonathan C. K. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Testable Hypothesis ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Breast Feed ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Breast Fed

The WHO recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life. At present, <2 % of mothers who breast-feed in the UK do so exclusively for 6 months. We propose the testable hypothesis that this is because many mothers do not provide sufficient breast milk to feed a 6-month-old baby adequately. We review recent evidence on energy requirements during infancy, and energy transfer from mother to baby, and consider the adequacy of exclusive breast-feeding to age 6 months for mothers and babies in the developed world. Evidence from our recent systematic review suggests that mean metabolisable energy intake in exclusively breast-fed infants at 6 months is 2·2–2·4 MJ/d (525–574 kcal/d), and mean energy requirement approximately 2·6–2·7 MJ/d (632–649 kcal/d), leading to a gap between the energy provided by milk and energy needs by 6 months for many babies. Our hypothesis is consistent with other evidence, and with evolutionary considerations, and we briefly review this other evidence. The hypothesis would be testable in a longitudinal study of infant energy balance using stable-isotope techniques, which are both practical and valid.

scholarly journals Continuous Glucose Monitoring Adoption in the United Kingdom – An Economic and Policy Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Oliver ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Policy Perspective ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Timely Treatment

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology provides real-time glucose concentration data to people with diabetes. The data enable timely treatment decisions that can lead to avoidance or mitigation of hypoglycaemia, with potential cost savings. This commentary discusses CGM implementation and funding policies in the UK, and regional disparities that confront many people with diabetes who could benefit from the technology.

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