Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Public Health Interventions

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has taken responsibility for developing public health guidance in the same way that it undertakes technological appraisals. Whilst the process for undertaking technological appraisals was well developed, the extent to which this could be applied to the public health sphere was not fully understood.

Matrix was commissioned to deliver one of the first cost effectiveness appraisals in the public health area. The economic model that we have developed uses high quality economic and outcome studies to model the change in physical activity achieved from a variety of interventions. Subsequently this change is modelled in terms of improved health outcomes (CHD, colon cancer, diabetes, and stroke) and improvements in quality of life. Finally the model identifies the cost savings to the NHS.

The report and guidance linked to the model is available on the NICE website.