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 .
Design of an internet-based health economic evaluation of a preventive group-intervention for children of parents with mental illness or substance use disorders
Background Preventive interventions are developed for children of parents with mental and substance use disorders ( COPMI ) , because these children have a higher risk of developing a psychological or behavioral disorder in the future . Mental health and substance use disorders contribute significantly to the global burden of disease . Although the exact number of parents with a mental illness is unclear , the subject of mentally ill parents is gaining attention . Moreover there is a lack of interventions for COPMI-children , as well of ( cost- ) effectiveness studies evaluating COPMI interventions . Innovative interventions such as e-health provide a new field for exploration . There is no knowledge about the opportunities for using the internet to prevent problems in children at risk . In the current study we will focus on the ( cost- ) effectiveness of an online health prevention program for COPMI-children . Methods / Design We design ed a r and omized controlled trial to examine the ( cost- ) effectiveness of the  Kopstoring intervention . Kopstoring is an online intervention for COPMI-children to strengthen their coping skills and prevent behavioral and psychological problems . We will compare the Kopstoring intervention with ( waiting list ) care as usual . This trial will be conducted entirely over the internet . An economic evaluation , from a societal perspective will be conducted , to examine the trial 's cost-effectiveness . Power calculations show that 214 participants are needed , aged 16 - 25 . Possible participants will be recruited via media announcements and banners on the internet . After screening and completing informed consent procedures , participants will be r and omized . The main outcome is internalizing and externalizing symptoms as measured by the Youth Self Report . For the economic evaluation , healthcare costs and costs outside the healthcare sector will be measured at the same time as the clinical measures , at baseline , 3 , 6 and 9 months . An extended measure for the intervention group will be provided at 12 months , to examine the long-term effects . In addition , a process evaluation will be conducted . Discussion Recent developments , such as international conferences and policy discussion s , show the pressing need to study the ( cost- ) effectiveness of interventions for vulnerable groups of children . This study will shed light on the ( cost- ) effectiveness of an online preventive intervention . Trial registration
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 .