Cost-effectiveness analysis of the oral health promotion model in rural primary schools in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the caries preventive effect and economic outcome of an oral health promotion model in rural primary schools in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Methods In November 2015, a baseline survey was conducted on the caries prevalence of rural first graders in program areas, and then a program intervention was carried out on the first graders of target primary schools. The intervention methods included the distribution of oral health care products, oral health education, teacher training, etc. In 2020, the method of cluster random sampling was adopted to include the sixth graders who received the program intervention as first graders and were still available in 2020 as the intervention group. During this period, the sixth graders transferred from foreign schools who failed to receive the program intervention as first graders were included in the non-intervention group. The caries preventive effect was evaluated by analyzing the caries epidemiological data of 2 652 children aged 11-13 years, comparing the intervention and non-intervention group. The cost of the program was estimated by the structural analysis method. A decision tree model was established by TreeAge pro2019 and incorporated into the effect parameters and cost parameters for cost-effectiveness analysis and sensitivity analysis. Results The prevalence of caries in the intervention group was 54.8%, and the mean DMFT was 1.36 ± 1.64, both of which were lower than those in the non-intervention group. The difference in prevalence and mean DMFT between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). It costs CNY 319.83 per child to reduce suffering from caries. The number of patients with caries in the intervention group was the most sensitive indicator of an economic effect. The probability of a cost-effectiveness advantage for the program was 92.2%. Conclusion This oral health promotion model used in rural schools demonstrated a caries preventive effect that was very likely economically advantageous. It is of practical significance to improve and promote this model in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Keywords

• caries，
• oral health promotion model，
• caries prevention effect，
• cost-effectiveness，
• program，
• primary school student，
• rural area，
• guangxi zhuang autonomous region，