Background: School-based chlamydia screening was implemented in five Louisiana public high schools in an effort to expand sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening services for adolescents.
Objective of this study: To assess the cost and the cost-effectiveness of the school-based chlamydia screening program.
Study Design: A decision-analysis model was constructed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the school-based screening scenario relative to a no school-based screening scenario. In the no school-based screening scenario, students who have symptoms may seek medical care offsite and other students may be offered screening offsite at preventive care visits. Standard methods of cost-effectiveness analysis and societal perspective were used in this study. Health outcome was measured as cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) prevented. Costs were measured as program costs and costs of treating PID and its sequelae. Cost-effectiveness was quantified and measured as cost per case of PID prevented.
Results: Under base case assumptions, the school-based screening program would prevent 38 cases of PID at a cost-savings of $57,455 or a saving of $1,517 per case of PID prevented. The results are only sensitive to the cost estimate of treating PID and its sequelae. Results indicate cost-effectiveness and cost-savings in most case scenarios considered.
Conclusions: The Louisiana school-based chlamydia screening program is cost-effective and cost-saving. School-based screening programs of this type are likely to be a cost-effective use of public monies to reduce the burden of STDs among adolescents.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to understand: 1. school-based STD screening programs are likely to be a cost-effective use of available resources. 2. school-based STD screening programs warrant careful consideration by policy makers and program planners. 3. how to apply economic analysis techniques to examine the effects of health services for adolescents.
Keywords: Economic Analysis, STD Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.