Economic Evaluation of Two Scalability Strategies for Nationwide Dissemination of an Occupational Sun Safety Intervention in a Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE

An economic evaluation of methods for scaling up the Go Sun Smart at Work (GSS@W) occupational sun protection program was conducted.

METHODS

Regional districts (n = 138) in 21 state departments of transportation were randomized to digital or in-person scalability strategies for GSS@W. Cost of delivering GSS@W was obtained from project accounting records and manager reports. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio between digital and in-person strategies was calculated.

RESULTS

Program-delivery costs (in thousands) were $15.6 in digital and $74.3 in in-person strategies. Across all districts, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $3305, representing average cost savings from a sun safety action not implemented under the digital strategy but implemented under the in-person strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

The digital scalability strategy was cost-effective relative to an in-person strategy, generating substantial cost savings and offsetting a lower mean number of implemented program actions.