A STRATEGY FOR ACCURATE COLLECTION OF INCREMENTAL COST DATA FOR COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSES IN-FIELD TRIALS - PAWTUCKETS MINIMAL CONTACT CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION INTERVENTION

With many community field trials or education interventions, the cost- effectiveness analyses are not given a high priority However this type of evaluation is important for purposes of future adoption of the int ervention. The accurate measurement of costs can best be served by pro spective collection of data. This article describes a methodology for collection of cost data that coincides with the intervention implement ation. This cost analysis strategy has seven discrete steps. The Minim al Contact Education for Cholesterol Change study is used as an exampl e of the use of this strategy. This intervention provides cholesterol education at six different levels of intensity at four different secto rs. The intensity levels vary along a continuum from very little educa tion input to a maximum level of intervention that might be practical in a screening setting The cost-effectiveness analysis component of th e study will identify the incremental cost-effectiveness of each inter vention along the continuum.