268726 Cost-benefit analysis of reducing the health-related consequences of bullying through the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in schools

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM

Carla Zema, PhD , McKenna School of Economics, Business and Government, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
Diana Schroeder, MSN, RN , Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA
Betsy Schroeder, MPH , Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA
Charvonne Holliday, MPH , Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA
Shiryl Barto, MED , The Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute - Windber Medical Center, Windber, PA
Matthew Masiello, MD, MPH , Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Windber Research Institute, Windber, PA
     
Objective: To determine the cost-benefit of a large population-based implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP).

Methods: In this model, the overall and incremental cost-benefits were determined by comparing the cost of implementing OBPP with the savings due to decreased health care utilization and treatment of the health-related consequences of bullying over three years. Program costs and bullying reductions were based on the actual implementation of OBPP in Pennsylvania schools. Prevalence of health-related consequences of bullying, treatment rates and costs were determined through published literature.

Results: The total cost of OBPP implementation for a 49 county Pennsylvania student population of 1,117,437 would be $25.8 million or $23.09 per student. The savings from reduced utilization of the health-related consequences of bullying is $23.5 million resulting in an overall cost of $2.3 million or $2.07 per student for the three years of implementation. Ongoing maintenance of the program is determined by excluding the first year of implementation. With ongoing program maintenance, the overall benefit is $13.7 million or $12.30 per student.

Conclusion: A population-based bullying prevention initiative may seem infeasible at first, despite the public health benefit. However, this study showed the overall cost of program implementation is minimal when the benefits are considered. Moreover, further overall health care cost savings are realized with ongoing program maintenance after the baseline year of implementation. Population-based implementation of OBPP is feasible given the benefits to students, families and schools and the potential savings in health care cost.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the cost-benefit to the health care system of a population-based implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in schools.

Keywords: Cost-Effectiveness, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted research on health economics and outcomes research for over ten years and have several publications in this area. This study applies those methodologies to conduct an economic evaluation of a public health program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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