The cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions: What do we know?

Abstract

Evidence on cost-effectiveness is becoming more important, particularly at local level in health services where decision-makers are deciding on how to spend devolved budgets. In such an environment it is important for health education and promotion to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness relative to other healthcare interventions if they are to succeed in securing resources in the future. This paper reviews and discusses one of the areas where health education and promotion is most effective – smoking cessation. Despite many effectiveness evaluations existing information on the most likely cost-effective interventions is sparse but several definite conclusions are reached. More research is needed in this area and the potential for computer simulation studies as a possible means of taking this forward is discussed.

Key words:

• cost-effectiveness
• cost-benefit analysis
• smoking cessation interventions