scholarly journals Health Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness From Promoting Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: Multistate Life Table Modeling (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cleghorn ◽  
Nick Wilson ◽  
Nisha Nair ◽  
Giorgi Kvizhinadze ◽  
Nhung Nghiem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health System ◽  
Life Table ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
The Mass Media ◽  
Multistate Life Table

BACKGROUND Obesity is an important risk factor for many chronic diseases. Mobile health interventions such as smartphone apps can potentially provide a convenient low-cost addition to other obesity reduction strategies. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the impacts on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained and health system costs over the remainder of the life span of the New Zealand population (N=4.4 million) for a smartphone app promotion intervention in 1 calendar year (2011) using currently available apps for weight loss. METHODS The intervention was a national mass media promotion of selected smartphone apps for weight loss compared with no dedicated promotion. A multistate life table model including 14 body mass index–related diseases was used to estimate QALYs gained and health systems costs. A lifetime horizon, 3% discount rate, and health system perspective were used. The proportion of the target population receiving the intervention (1.36%) was calculated using the best evidence for the proportion who have access to smartphones, are likely to see the mass media campaign promoting the app, are likely to download a weight loss app, and are likely to continue using this app. RESULTS In the base-case model, the smartphone app promotion intervention generated 29 QALYs (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 14-52) and cost the health system US $1.6 million (95% UI: 1.1-2.0 million) with the standard download rate. Under plausible assumptions, QALYs increased to 59 (95% UI: 27-107) and costs decreased to US $1.2 million (95% UI: 0.5-1.8) when standard download rates were doubled. Costs per QALY gained were US $53,600 for the standard download rate and US $20,100 when download rates were doubled. On the basis of a threshold of US $30,000 per QALY, this intervention was cost-effective for Māori when the standard download rates were increased by 50% and also for the total population when download rates were doubled. CONCLUSIONS In this modeling study, the mass media promotion of a smartphone app for weight loss produced relatively small health gains on a population level and was of borderline cost-effectiveness for the total population. Nevertheless, the scope for this type of intervention may expand with increasing smartphone use, more easy-to-use and effective apps becoming available, and with recommendations to use such apps being integrated into dietary counseling by health workers.

The cost-effectiveness of a mass media campaign to promote smartphone apps for weight loss: an updated modeling study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda C Jones ◽  
Leah Grout ◽  
Wilson Nick ◽  
Nhung Nghiem ◽  
Christine L Cleghorn
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health System ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
Mass Media Campaign ◽  
Media Campaign ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Promote Weight Loss

UNSTRUCTURED Background Evidence suggests that smartphone apps can be effective in the self-management of weight. Given the low cost, broad reach, and apparent effectiveness of apps at promoting weight loss, governments may seek to encourage the uptake of such apps as an opportunity for reducing excess weight among the population. However, the cost and potential cost-effectiveness are important considerations. Our study used a modeling approach to assess the health impacts, health system costs, cost-effectiveness, and health equity of a mass media campaign to promote high quality smartphone apps for weight loss in New Zealand. Methods We used an established proportional multistate life table model that simulates the 2011 New Zealand (NZ) adult population over the lifetime, sub-grouped by age, sex, and ethnicity (Māori [Indigenous]/non-Māori). The key risk factor was BMI. The model compared business-as-usual to a one-off mass media campaign intervention, which included the pooled effect size from a recent meta-analysis of smartphone weight loss apps. The resulting impact on BMI and BMI-related diseases was captured through changes in health gain (quality-adjusted life years; QALYs) and in health system costs (health system perspective). The difference in total health system costs was the net sum of interventions costs and downstream cost offsets due to altered disease rates. A discount rate of 3% was applied to health gains and health system costs. Multiple scenario and sensitivity analyses were also conducted, including an equity adjustment. Results Across the remaining lifetime of the modeled 2011 NZ population, the mass media campaign to promote weight loss apps usage had an estimated overall health gain of 181 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 113, 270) QALYs and health care costs of NZ$ -606,000 (95%UI: -2,540,000, 907,000). The mean health care costs were negative, representing an overall savings to the health system and a likely cost-saving intervention. Across the outcomes examined in this study, the modeled mass media campaign to promote weight loss apps among the general population would be expected to provide higher per capita health gain for Māori and hence reduce health inequalities arising from high BMI. Conclusions A modeled mass media campaign to encourage the adoption of smartphone apps to promote weight loss among the NZ adult population is expected to yield an overall gain in health and to be cost-saving to the health system. While other interventions in the nutrition and physical activity space are even more beneficial to health and produce larger cost-savings (eg, fiscal policies, food reformulation), governments may choose to include strategies to promote health app usage as complementary measures.

scholarly journals Health Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness From Promoting Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: Multistate Life Table Modeling

10.2196/11118 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e11118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cleghorn ◽  
Nick Wilson ◽  
Nisha Nair ◽  
Giorgi Kvizhinadze ◽  
Nhung Nghiem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Life Table ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Multistate Life Table

The fight of Armenia against COVID-19 in the context of international cooperation

2021 ◽  
pp. 127-133
Author(s):  
M. A. Tamamyan
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Health System ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
The Mass Media ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
External Actors

The article is devoted to the study of methods of combating coronavirus infection in the Republic of Armenia in the context of international cooperation. Attention is focused on the interaction of country with international organizations to overcome the pandemic in the country. This paper presents the author's table based on the analysis of the mass media in order to summarize the full range of cooperation between the Government of Armenia and external actors during the COVID-19. The article emphasizes the importance of creating an anti-crisis committee to combat coronavirus, as well as the need to increase funding for the health system.

A national quitline service and its promotion in the mass media: modelling the health gain, health equity and cost–utility

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhung Nghiem ◽  
Christine L Cleghorn ◽  
William Leung ◽  
Nisha Nair ◽  
Frederieke S van der Deen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Cost Saving ◽  
Health System ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Cost Utility ◽  
The Mass Media

BackgroundMass media campaigns and quitlines are both important distinct components of tobacco control programmes around the world. But when used as an integrated package, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are not well described. We therefore aimed to estimate the health gain, health equity impacts and cost–utility of the package of a national quitline service and its promotion in the mass media.MethodsWe adapted an established Markov and multistate life-table macro-simulation model. The population was all New Zealand adults in 2011. Effect sizes and intervention costs were based on past New Zealand quitline data. Health system costs were from a national data set linking individual health events to costs.ResultsThe 1-year operation of the existing intervention package of mass media promotion and quitline service was found to be net cost saving to the health sector for all age groups, sexes and ethnic groups (saving $NZ84 million; 95%uncertainty interval 60–115 million in the base-case model). It also produced greater per capita health gains for Māori (indigenous) than non-Māori (2.2 vs 0.73 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) per 1000 population, respectively). The net cost saving of the intervention was maintained in all sensitivity and scenario analyses for example at a discount rate of 6% and when the intervention effect size was quartered (given the possibility of residual confounding in our estimates of smoking cessation). Running the intervention for 20 years would generate an estimated 54 000 QALYs and $NZ1.10 billion (US$0.74 billion) in cost savings.ConclusionsThe package of a quitline service and its promotion in the mass media appears to be an effective means to generate health gain, address health inequalities and save health system costs. Nevertheless, the role of this intervention needs to be compared with other tobacco control and health sector interventions, some of which may be even more cost saving.

scholarly journals Spiritual Nontroversies: Framing Conflicts and Controversies of Religion and Spirituality in Danish News Media

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-75
Author(s):  
Henrik Reintoft Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
Health System ◽  
News Media ◽  
Natural Source ◽  
Imagined Communities ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Religion And Science ◽  
News Production ◽  
News Stories ◽  
The Mass Media

This article analyzes two Danish news stories in order to discuss the reasons that spirituality seems to be less newsworthy than religion. Drawing on Anderson’s concept of imagined communities, and Luhmann’s account of the mass media in a modern functionally differentiated society, I argue that spirituality seldom registers as controversial in the news stories. It lacks the scale necessary to be selected as newsworthy. Additionally, it is not a natural source of systemic irritation for many subsystems, probably only for the systems of religion and science. The two cases involves media controversies on news production on mindfulness in the health system and on the use of animal telepathy in the majority church.

E-HEALTH SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION

2019 ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Ivita Bokiša
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Key Features ◽  
The Mass Media ◽  
Care System

In both Latvia and in many other countries, E-health is an already existing and functioning health care system that has also brought many problems and unclear answers to many issues of public interest. It is therefore urgent and important to look at the key features of this system and the specifics of the operation to determine how the existing situation can be rectified, which is not as brilliant as it was planned in the mass media and other sources. The research objective is to analyze the main steps of the E-health system, identify existing gaps, problems and offer concrete solutions. Research tasks include analyzing the concept of E-health; study the historical development of E-health; to consider the order of issuing the recipe.

scholarly journals Health Gain, Cost Impacts, and Cost-Effectiveness of a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Smartphone Apps for Physical Activity: Modeling Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Mizdrak ◽  
Kendra Telfer ◽  
Artur Direito ◽  
Linda J Cobiac ◽  
Tony Blakely ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Mass Media Campaign ◽  
Media Campaign ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Health Gains

BACKGROUND Physical activity smartphone apps are a promising strategy to increase population physical activity, but it is unclear whether government mass media campaigns to promote these apps would be a cost-effective use of public funds. OBJECTIVE We aimed to estimate the health impacts, costs, and cost-effectiveness of a one-off national mass media campaign to promote the use of physical activity apps. METHODS We used an established multistate life table model to estimate the lifetime health gains (in quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]) that would accrue if New Zealand adults were exposed to a one-off national mass media campaign to promote physical activity app use, with a 1-year impact on physical activity, compared to business-as-usual. A health-system perspective was used to assess cost-effectiveness. and a 3% discount rate was applied to future health gains and health system costs. RESULTS The modeled intervention resulted in 28 QALYs (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 8-72) gained at a cost of NZ $81,000/QALY (2018 US $59,500; 95% UI 17,000-345,000), over the remaining life course of the 2011 New Zealand population. The intervention had a low probability (20%) of being cost-effective at a cost-effectiveness threshold of NZ $45,000 (US $32,900) per QALY. The health impact and cost-effectiveness of the intervention were highly sensitive to assumptions around the maintenance of physical activity behaviors beyond the duration of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS A mass media campaign to promote smartphone apps for physical activity is unlikely to generate much health gain or be cost-effective at the population level. Other investments to promote physical activity, particularly those that result in sustained behavior change, are likely to have greater health impacts.

scholarly journals Health Gain, Cost Impacts, and Cost-Effectiveness of a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Smartphone Apps for Physical Activity: Modeling Study

10.2196/18014 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e18014
Author(s):  
Anja Mizdrak ◽  
Kendra Telfer ◽  
Artur Direito ◽  
Linda J Cobiac ◽  
Tony Blakely ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Mass Media Campaign ◽  
Media Campaign ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Health Gains

Background Physical activity smartphone apps are a promising strategy to increase population physical activity, but it is unclear whether government mass media campaigns to promote these apps would be a cost-effective use of public funds. Objective We aimed to estimate the health impacts, costs, and cost-effectiveness of a one-off national mass media campaign to promote the use of physical activity apps. Methods We used an established multistate life table model to estimate the lifetime health gains (in quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]) that would accrue if New Zealand adults were exposed to a one-off national mass media campaign to promote physical activity app use, with a 1-year impact on physical activity, compared to business-as-usual. A health-system perspective was used to assess cost-effectiveness. and a 3% discount rate was applied to future health gains and health system costs. Results The modeled intervention resulted in 28 QALYs (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 8-72) gained at a cost of NZ $81,000/QALY (2018 US $59,500; 95% UI 17,000-345,000), over the remaining life course of the 2011 New Zealand population. The intervention had a low probability (20%) of being cost-effective at a cost-effectiveness threshold of NZ $45,000 (US $32,900) per QALY. The health impact and cost-effectiveness of the intervention were highly sensitive to assumptions around the maintenance of physical activity behaviors beyond the duration of the intervention. Conclusions A mass media campaign to promote smartphone apps for physical activity is unlikely to generate much health gain or be cost-effective at the population level. Other investments to promote physical activity, particularly those that result in sustained behavior change, are likely to have greater health impacts.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document