Protocol for cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomised trial of mHealth coaching (Bump2Baby and Me) compared with usual care for healthy gestational weight gain and postnatal outcomes in at-risk women and their offspring in the UK, Australia, Ireland and Spain

BMJ Open. 2024 May 21;14(5):e080823. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080823.

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus and overweight are associated with an increased likelihood of complications during birth and for the newborn baby. These complications lead to increased immediate and long-term healthcare costs as well as reduced health and well-being in women and infants. This protocol presents the health economic evaluation to investigate the cost-effectiveness of Bump2Baby and Me (B2B&Me), which is a health coaching intervention delivered via smartphone to women at risk of gestational diabetes.

Methods and analysis: Using data from the B2B&Me randomised controlled trial, this economic evaluation compares costs and health effects between the intervention and control group as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Direct healthcare costs, costs of pharmaceuticals and intervention costs will be included in the analysis, body weight and quality-adjusted life-years for the mother will serve as the effect outcomes. To investigate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the trial, a Markov model will be employed. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis will be employed.

Ethics and dissemination: The National Maternity Hospital Human Research and Ethics Committee was the primary approval site (EC18.2020) with approvals from University College Dublin HREC-Sciences (LS-E-20-150-OReilly), Junta de Andalucia CEIM/CEI Provincial de Granada (2087-M1-22), Monash Health HREC (RES-20-0000-892A) and National Health Service Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) (21/WA/0022). The results from the analysis will be disseminated in scientific papers, through conference presentations and through different channels for communication within the project.

Trial registration number: ACTRN12620001240932.

Keywords: Diabetes in pregnancy; HEALTH ECONOMICS; Randomized Controlled Trial.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

  • Australia
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
  • Diabetes, Gestational* / economics
  • Diabetes, Gestational* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Gestational Weight Gain*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Ireland
  • Mentoring / economics
  • Mentoring / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Spain
  • Telemedicine* / economics
  • United Kingdom