Intervention costs must be distinguished from research, development, and recruitment costs. The inclusion of sensitivity analyses is recommended to understand the implications of implementation of the intervention into different settings using different intervention resources. To illustrate these procedures, we use data from a smoking reduction practical clinical trial to describe the techniques and methods used to estimate and evaluate the costs associated with the intervention. Estimated intervention costs per participant were $419, with a range of $276 to $703, depending on the number of participants.

In the absence of nicotine replacement therapy, the long-term effects of this smoking reduction intervention seem modest and nonsignificant. Future research is indicated to enhance intervention effects and conduct more comprehensive economic analyses of program variations.

Rarely has utilization of genetic counseling for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) been studied separately from utilization of testing. At Kaiser Permanente Colorado, consistently only 30% of all members referred for HBOC attend genetic counseling. To increase the volume of genetic counseling appointments, a patient navigator approach was pilot tested in a randomized-controlled trial over 3 months. A total of 125 members were referred for HBOC genetic counseling (55 randomized to PN, 70 randomized to usual care). Utilization of referrals for Navigator-assisted members was 44%, compared to 31% in the usual care arm (p=0.16). The patient navigator significantly decreased time to appointment, with over 80% of Navigator-assisted members seen for genetic counseling less than three months from referral date, compared to 32% in usual care (p=0.002). patient navigator assistance shortens time from referral to appointment for HBOC genetic counseling, and may increase utilization of such services.

Information on cost-effectiveness of multiple-risk-factor lifestyle interventions for Latinas with diabetes is lacking. The aim of this paper is to evaluate costs and cost-effectiveness for ¡Viva Bien!, a randomized trial targeting Latinas with type 2 diabetes. We estimated 6-month costs; calculated incremental costs per behavioral, biologic, and quality-of-life change; and performed sensitivity analyses from health plan and participant perspectives. Recruitment, intervention, and participant costs were estimated at $45,896, $432,433, and $179,697, respectively. This translates to $4,634 in intervention costs per ¡Viva Bien! participant; $7,723 in both per unit reduction in hemoglobin A1c and per unit reduction in body mass index. Although costs may be higher than interventions that address one risk factor, potential risks for longer-term health-care costs are high for this at-risk group. Given the benefits of ¡Viva Bien!, cost reductions are recommended to enhance its efficiency, adoption, and long-term maintenance without diluting its effectiveness.

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