Caution must therefore be exercised in interpreting results , but the case for investment in parenting and health visitor-related programmes appears most strong , especially when impacts beyond the health sector are taken into account .
In the workplace an economic return on investment in a number of comprehensive workplace health promotion programmes and stress management projects ( largely in the USA ) was reported , while group-based exercise and psychosocial interventions are of potential benefit to older people .
Parenting programme for parents of children at risk of developing conduct disorder: cost effectiveness analysis
Objective To investigate the cost effectiveness of a parenting programme . Design An incremental cost effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic r and omised controlled trial of the effectiveness of a group parenting programme delivered through Sure Start in the community . Setting Sure Start areas in north and mid Wales . Participants Parents of 116 children aged 36 - 59 months ( 87 % of the clinical sample ) at risk of developing conduct disorders defined by scoring over the clinical cut off on the Eyberg child behaviour inventory ) . Children were identified by health visitors and recruited by the research team . Intervention The Webster-Stratton Incredible Years basic parenting programme or a six month waiting list control . Main outcome measure Incremental cost per unit of improvement on the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory . Results The bootstrapped incremental cost effectiveness ratio point estimate was � 73 ( € 109 , $ 142 ) per one point improvement on the intensity score ( 95 % confidence interval � 42 to � 140 ) . It would cost � 5486 ( € 8190 , $ 10 666 ) to bring the child with the highest intensity score to below the clinical cut-off point and � 1344 ( € 2006 , $ 2618 ) to bring the average child in the intervention group within the non- clinical limits on the intensity score ( below 127 ) . For a ceiling ratio of � 100 ( € 149 , $ 194 ) per point increase in intensity score , there is an 83.9 % chance of the intervention being cost effective . The mean cost per child attending the parenting group was � 1934 ( € 2887 , $ 3760 ) for eight children and � 1289 ( € 1924 , $ 2506 ) for 12 children , including initial costs and material s for training group leaders . When we categorised the sample into relatively mild , moderate , and severe behaviour groups based on intensity scores at baseline the intervention seemed more cost effective in those with the highest risk of developing conduct disorder . Conclusion This parenting programme improves child behaviour as measured by the intensity score of the Eyberg child behaviour inventory at a relatively low cost and was cost effective  compared with the waiting list control . This parenting programme involves modest costs and demonstrates strong clinical effect , suggesting it would represent good value for money for public spending
Caution must therefore be exercised in interpreting results , but the case for investment in parenting and health visitor-related programmes appears most strong , especially when impacts beyond the health sector are taken into account .
In the workplace an economic return on investment in a number of comprehensive workplace health promotion programmes and stress management projects ( largely in the USA ) was reported , while group-based exercise and psychosocial interventions are of potential benefit to older people .