A Scoping Review of Economic Evaluations to Inform the Reorientation of Preventive Health Services in Australia

Abstract

The Australian National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 recommended the establishment of evidence-based frameworks to enable local public health services to identify strategies and interventions that deliver value for money. This study aimed to review the cost-effectiveness of preventive health strategies to inform the reorientation of local public health services towards preventive health interventions that are financially sustainable. Four electronic databases were searched for reviews published between 2005 and February 2022. Reviews that met the following criteria were included: population: human studies, any age or sex; concept 1: primary and/or secondary prevention interventions; concept 2: full economic evaluation; context: local public health services as the provider of concept 1. The search identified 472 articles; 26 were included. Focus health areas included mental health (n = 3 reviews), obesity (n = 1), type 2 diabetes (n = 3), dental caries (n = 2), public health (n = 4), chronic disease (n = 5), sexual health (n = 1), immunisation (n = 1), smoking cessation (n = 3), reducing alcohol (n = 1), and fractures (n = 2). Interventions that targeted obesity, type 2 diabetes, smoking cessation, and fractures were deemed cost-effective, however, more studies are needed, especially those that consider equity in priority populations.

Climate Change Adaptation Methods for Public Health Prevention in Australia: an Integrative Review

“…This highlights investment in preventive public health is significantly inadequate and continues placing great pressure on Australia’s healthcare system [ 115 ]. Despite the potential for significant returns from investments into preventive health, there is substantial disparity in funding compared to clinical services in Australia [ 116 ]. Furthermore, capacity constraints to address CCA are also evident as a result of years of inadequate funding in public health and disease prevention [ 117 ].…”

Generating a Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Decision-Making Model for Determining Priority Strategies for Improving Community Health

“…In addition, increasing the health awareness of society and making more use of preventive health services is also one of the practices [8]. Taylor et al [9] conducted a review study examining the cost-effectiveness of preventive health services. Data from 2005-2022 from four different electronic databases are analyzed.…”