Economics Evaluation 1: Anxiety Intervention in Secondary Schools

This essay provides an economic evaluation of an anxiety intervention program for secondary school students, addressing the Department of Health's (DoH) proposal for the "Anxiety Free" program. The program comprises two components: identifying at-risk students and providing eight online modules to prevent anxiety. The essay explores the necessity of an economic evaluation, focusing on the costs of research and time investment. It examines the intervention's objectives, including assessing the most efficient procedures and evaluating the financial impact of online programs. The essay analyzes the relevant population (secondary school students), the intervention's components, and expected health outcomes (prescription, diagnosis, and referrals). It details the study's eight-week duration, the perspective taken (health providers, family, and students), and the most appropriate evaluation approach (cost-benefit analysis). The essay further discusses resource collection, including direct and indirect healthcare costs, and data sources such as administrative and patient-supplied data. It also covers valuation methods and assessing the intervention's impact on student well-being, concluding that the health assessment standard is the most appropriate method for economic evaluation. The essay also addresses the challenges of data collection and valuation of inputs.