Economic evaluation of brief advice as part of routine care on physical activity promotion

Background: Physical inactivity raises the risk of developing various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Brief advice as part of routine care intervention for physical activity promotion has been implemented in Thailand to reduce physical inactivity, however, information on its cost-effectiveness is lacking.
Purpose: This study aims to estimate the cost-effectiveness of brief advice implementation from the perspective of health outcomes in Thailand during 2021–2030.
Methods: This study used the concept of health economics to analyze cost-effectiveness by using OneHealth Tool program. The input data including the costing, quantity assumption, and unit price of implementing brief advice as part of routine care intervention on physical activity promotion on all level was obtained from Ministry of Public Health in Thailand. The data management includes exploration, model development, and verification.
Results: The findings of the study found that physical activity promotion with brief advice as part of routine care may help to reduce the mortality of Thai population. The intervention may averted 673 death from NCDs per year. The current implementation with brief advice counseling may also generate additional 114,313 person with sufficient MVPA per years. The cost of implementing such measures is approximately 437 US dollar per person to achieve sufficient level of physical activity and approximately 74,190 US dollar per person to avert death from NCDs.
Conclusion: The results informed that the promoting physical activity through brief advice as part of routine care intervention in Thailand may contribute to mortality reduction from NCDs.
Practical implication: This study will help the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand plan to improve the efficiency of implementing BA more efficiently.
Funding: This research was funded by Thai Health Promotion Foundation grant number: 63-00178.