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 .
Improving infant sleep and maternal mental health: a cluster randomised trial
Objectives : To determine whether a community-delivered intervention targeting infant sleep problems  improves  infant sleep and maternal well-being and to report the costs of this approach to the healthcare system . Design : Cluster r and omised trial . Setting : 49 Maternal and Child Health ( MCH ) centres ( clusters ) in Melbourne , Australia . Participants : 328 mothers reporting an infant sleep problem at 7 months recruited during October – November 2003 . Intervention : Behavioural strategies delivered over individual structured MCH consultations versus usual care . Main outcome measures : Maternal report of infant sleep problem , depression symptoms ( Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ( EPDS ) ) , and SF-12 mental and physical health scores when infants were 10 and 12 months old . Costs included MCH sleep consultations , other healthcare services and intervention costs . Results : Prevalence of infant sleep problems was lower in the intervention than control group at 10 months ( 56 % vs 68 % ; adjusted OR 0.58 ( 95 % CI : 0.36 to 0.94 ) ) and 12 months ( 39 % vs 55 % ; adjusted OR 0.50 ( 0.31 to 0.80 ) ) . EPDS scores indicated less depression at 10 months ( adjusted mean difference −1.4 ( −2.3 to −0.4 ) and 12 months ( −1.7 ( −2.6 to −0.7 ) ) . SF-12 mental health scores indicated better health at 10 months ( adjusted mean difference 3.7 ( 1.5 to 5.8 ) ) and 12 months ( 3.9 ( 1.8 to 6.1 ) ) . Total mean costs including intervention design , delivery and use of non-MCH nurse services were £ 96.93 and £ 116.79 per intervention and control family , respectively . Conclusions : Implementing this sleep intervention may lead to health gains for infants and mothers and re source savings for the healthcare system . Trial registration : Current Controlled Trial Registry , number IS RCT N48752250 ( registered November 2004 )
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 .