Economic evaluation of safety-engineered devices and training in reducing needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in South Africa

de Jager, P., Zungu, M. and Dyers, R.E. (2018) Economic evaluation of safety-engineered devices and training in reducing needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 108 (6). pp. 477-483. ISSN 0038-2469

Preview

Text - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (379kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of contracting various communicable diseases. Needlestick injuries (NSIs) are a common mechanism of exposure. Training in basic universal precautions and utilisation of safety-engineered devices (SEDs) are interventions known to reduce the risk of NSI. Objectives. To assess the cost-utility of SEDs v. a training programme in universal precautions (TP) v. a combination strategy to reduce NSIs among South African HCWs. Methods. A Markov model comparing SEDs v. a TP v. a combination strategy against current practice was developed. A hypothetical cohort of HCWs working in the SA public sector was followed from a payer’s perspective for a period of 45 years, and discounted costs and benefits were assessed. Data were obtained from the National Department of Health, suppliers and published literature. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted. Results. Over the study time horizon, our model estimated that 2 209, 3 314 and 4 349 needlestick injuries per 1 000 HCWs could be prevented if a TP, SEDs or a combination strategy, respectively, was adopted compared with current practice. All three candidate interventions were cost-effective at a willingness to pay (WTP) of one times the gross domestic product per capita (USD6 483.90/quality adjusted life-year (QUALY) gained). SEDs as a stand-alone intervention was dominated by a combination strategy. Compared with current practice, the incremental cost-effectiveness of training was USD32.90/QALY v. USD432.32/QALY for SEDs and SD377.08/QALY for a combination strategy. Results were sensitive to the effectiveness of the interventions. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that at a WTP of USD6 483.90/QALY gained, a combination strategy would be cost-effective 95.4% of the time. Conclusions. A combination strategy in which both SEDs and a TP are adopted is preferred.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/index
Additional Information:	© 2018 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2018 14:18
Last Modified:	17 Nov 2024 00:21
Funders:	School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/88360

Actions (login required)

View Item