Economic evaluation of a mobile phone text-message intervention for Australian adults with type 2 diabetes.

Background: The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia is a public health concern, contributing to significant disease burden and economic costs. Text-message programs have been shown to improve health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes, however they remain underutilized, and no evidence exists on their cost-effectiveness or costs of scale up to a population level in Australia. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a 6-month text-message intervention (DTEXT) to improve glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and self-management behaviors for Australian adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A within-trial economic evaluation was conducted on the DTEXT randomized controlled trial. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were determined per 11 mmol/mol (1%) reduced HbA1c and per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained, compared to usual care. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEAC) determined the probability of the intervention being cost-effective over a range of willingness to pay thresholds. A scenario analysis was conducted to determine how cost-effectiveness was impacted by using current implementation costs. Results: The DTEXT intervention cost AU$36 (INT$24) per participant, with an ICER of AU$311 (INT$211) per 11 mmol/mol (1%) reduced HbA1c. Based on HbA1c outcomes, DTEXT had a 33% probability of being effective and cost-saving. Based on the QALY outcomes, the intervention had only a 24% probability of being cost-effective. Scenario analysis indicated costs per participant of AU$13 (INT$9) to deliver the intervention, with a reduced incremental cost effectiveness ratio of AU$151 (INT$103) per 11 mmol/mol (1%) reduced HbA1c and a 38% probability of being effective and cost-saving. Conclusions: DTEXT was low cost and potentially scalable, but only had a low to moderate probability of being effective and cost saving. Further research should determine more targeted approaches that may improve cost-effectiveness. Trial Registration: ACTRN12617000416392.

Foods and beverages provided in out of school hours care services: an observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Out of school hours care (OSHC) is a fast-growing childcare setting in Australia, however the types of foods and beverages offered are relatively unknown. This study describes the food and beverages offered and investigates sector-level and setting-level factors which may impact OSHC in meeting the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG). METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in 89 OSHC services (between 2018 and 2019). Food and beverages offered, kitchen facilities and menus were captured via direct observation. Foods were categorised into five food groups or discretionary foods, based on the ADG, and frequencies determined. Short interviews with OSHC directors ascertained healthy eating policies, staff training, food quality assessment methods and food budgets. Fisher's exact test explored the influence of sector-level and setting-level factors on food provision behaviours. RESULTS: Discretionary foods (1.5 ± 0.68) were offered more frequently than vegetables (0.82 ± 0.80) (p < .001), dairy (0.97 ± 0.81) (p = .013) and lean meats (0.22 ± 0.54) (p < .001). OSHC associated with long day care and reported using valid food quality assessment methods offered more lean meats (p= .002, and p= .004). Larger organisations offered more vegetables (p = .015) and discretionary foods (p= .007). Menus with clearly worded instructions to provide fruits and vegetables daily offered more fruit (p= .009), vegetables (p < .001) and whole grains (p= .003). No other sector or setting-level factors were associated with services aligning with the ADG. CONCLUSION: Future interventions could benefit from trialling menu planning training and tools to assist OSHC services in NSW meet the ADG requirements.

Physical activity in out of school hours care: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Opportunities for physical activity within out of school hours care (OSHC) are not well documented in Australia. This study explored factors associated with children (5-12 years) meeting 30 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while attending OSHC in the afternoon period. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, conducted in 89 OSHC services in New South Wales, Australia, serving 4,408 children. Each service was visited twice between 2018-2019. Physical activity promotion practices were captured via short interviews and System for Observing Staff Promotion of Physical Activity and Nutrition (SOSPAN). Physical activity spaces was measured (m2) and physical activity of 3,614 child days (42% girls), were collected using Acti-Graph accelerometers. Association between program practices and children accumulation of MVPA was tested using mixed effects logistic regression, adjusted by OSHC service and child. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of children (n = 925) accumulated 30 min or more of MVPA. Factors associated with children reaching MVPA recommendations included: services scheduling greater amounts of child-led free play, both 30-59 min (OR 2.6, 95%CI 1.70, 3.98) and ≥ 60 min (OR 6.4, 95%CI 3.90, 10.49); opportunities for staff-led organised play of ≥ 30 min (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.47, 3.83); and active games that engaged the majority of children (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.11, 2.61). Children were less likely to meet MVPA recommendations if services played games with elimination components (OR 0.56, 95%CI 0.37, 0.86). CONCLUSION: Improvements to service-level physical activity promotion practices, specifically the type of physical activity scheduled and the structure of games, may be an effective strategy to increase MVPA of children attending OSHC afterschool in NSW, Australia.

Rapid versus intermediate health impact assessment of foreshore development plans.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the main differences between conducting a rapid health impact assessment (HIA) and an intermediate HIA on foreshore development plans and their feasibility from a health service perspective. METHODS: A rapid HIA and an intermediate HIA were undertaken on two foreshore development plans. RESULTS: The main differences between the two HIAs were in the identification, assessment and decision-making stages of the HIA. CONCLUSION: While the rapid HIA was less resource intensive than the intermediate HIA, there are several factors that affect the feasibility of conducting this type of HIA within a short time period.