The cost-effectiveness of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Results from a modelling study. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beckman, Linda; Svensson, Mikael
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 45(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Adolescence -- Bullying -- Cost-effectiveness -- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program -- Modelling; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.07.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: Exposure to bullying affects around 3–5 percent of adolescents in secondary school and is related to various mental health problems. Many different anti-bullying programmes are currently available, but economic evaluations are lacking. The aim of this study is to identify the cost effectiveness of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP). We constructed a decision-tree model for a Swedish secondary school, using a public payer perspective, and retrieved data on costs and effects from the published literature. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis to reflect the uncertainty in the model was conducted. The base-case analysis showed that using the OBPP to reduce the number of victims of bullying costs 131 250 Swedish kronor (€14 470) per victim spared. Compared to a relevant threshold of the societal value of bullying reduction, this indicates that the programme is cost-effective. Using a relevant willingness-to-pay threshold shows that the OBPP is a cost-effective intervention. Highlights: School administrators and decision-makers need to consider the cost and resource use of school-based interventions/programs. This paper identifies the cost-effectiveness of the OBPP in Swedish schools (ages 13–15) using a simulation model. The base-case analysis shows an incremental cost of 131 250 SEK (€14 300) per reduced victims of bullying. The OBPP is cost-effective if it is paid for by additional tax funds.