Minimum Cost Estimation of a Baseline Survey for a Molecular Epidemiology Cohort Study: Collecting Participants in a Model Region in Japan

Abstract

BackgroundSome recent molecular epidemiology studies of the effects of genetic and environmental factors on human health have required the enrollment of more than 100 000 participants and the involvement of regional study offices across the country. Although regional study office investigators play a critical role in these studies, including the acquisition of funds, this role is rarely discussed.MethodsWe first differentiated the functions of the regional and central study offices. We then investigated the minimum number of items required and approximate cost of a molecular epidemiology study enrolling 7400 participants from a model region with a population of 100 000 for a 4-year baseline survey using a standard protocol developed based on the protocol of Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation.ResultsThe functions of the regional study office were identified, and individual expenses were itemized. The total cost of the 4-year baseline survey was 153 million yen, excluding consumption tax. Accounting difficulties in conducting the survey were clarified.ConclusionsWe investigated a standardized example of the tasks and total actual costs of a regional study office. Our approach is easy to utilize and will help improve the management of regional study offices in future molecular epidemiology studies.

Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Studies: A Research Method Primer

“…For instance, the National Children's Study (NCS) in the USA, a birth cohort study which has recruited at least 100 000 patients and has a follow-up period of 21 years estimated its costs to be 2.7 billion USD [13]. In Japan, Mishiro and colleagues [14] reported that the cost of a 4-year baseline survey was 153 In their calculations, they included costs for advertisement, patient recruitment, material fees, and equipment. Although the total cost may vary depending on the length and number of participants in the study, in the model survey they conducted in order to provide a close estimate of the required expenses, they calculated their total cost to be 14.4 million yen per year (136 814.40 CAD), and this only took into account the minimum number of items required to enrol 7400 participants.…”

Commentary The Importance of Cost Estimation for Molecular Epidemiology Studies

“…In the current issue of the Journal of Epidemiology , Mishiro et al 1 present a very careful and detailed cost estimation for a molecular epidemiology cohort study in a model region of Japan. Their approach and key points can be extended to other studies worldwide in order to rationalize planning and costs of molecular epidemiology cohort studies.…”

“…There are two aspects, however, that require additional attention. First, the new cohort described by Mishiro et al, 1 which includes 7400 subjects, is relatively small for the subsequent analysis of most of its possible outcomes, despite its comprehensive and innovative data collection compared to cohorts defined in the 1980s and 1990s. 2 , 3 Thus, this dataset will inevitably need to be integrated with data from other cohort studies from Japan and other areas of the world; a similar project was recently developed within a network of cohort studies that included 23 European and 3 non-European studies (the Consortium of Health and Ageing), which includes over 680 000 elderly.…”

“…Despite these limitations, the paper by Mishiro et al 1 constitutes an important exercise towards cost estimation of a baseline survey for a cohort study that includes biological and molecular information. Therefore, this manuscript should be regarded as an example for practical definition and methodology optimization of future studies in other populations.…”