A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Community Health Worker Led Asthma Education Program in South Texas

Georges Naufal; Emily Naiser; Bethany Patterson; Juha Baek; Genny Carrillo

doi:10.2147/JAA.S351141

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Community Health Worker Led Asthma Education Program in South Texas

J Asthma Allergy. 2022 May 4:15:547-556. doi: 10.2147/JAA.S351141. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Georges Naufal^{1

2}, Emily Naiser¹, Bethany Patterson¹, Juha Baek², Genny Carrillo³

Affiliations

¹ Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
² Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA.
³ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of an asthma-related education program.

Materials and methods: Using a pre and post approach, the paper calculates first changes in cost due to variations in outcome (from baseline to follow-up). We also estimate cost-effectiveness ratios for each of the eight outcomes (numbers of asthma attacks, hospital, and ER visits, and physical and emotional health, and activity levels of both children and family members).

Results: The intervention saved the household around $36 per day. Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged between less than $2.2 for children and family members' physical and emotional health, and activity levels to between $4.1 and $82.8 for asthma attacks and hospital visits. Cost-benefit results showed minimal benefit due to conservative estimates. We could not quantify the economic value of physical and emotional health improvement seen based on the measures.

Conclusion: Cost savings and ratios suggest that such a program could reduce health disparities due to improved knowledge, decreasing exposure to asthma triggers, enhancing health outcomes, and improving the quality of life of the children with asthma and their whole family.

Keywords: activities of children; asthma home intervention; cost-effectiveness ratio; emotional health of children; physical health of children.

Grants and funding

This research is supported in part by the State of Texas's legislative action to establish and support the Healthy South Texas initiative. Funds were administred through Texas A&M University Health Science Center grant number 23-183000.