Health and economic implications of a work-site smoking-cessation program: a simulation analysis

J Occup Environ Med. 1996 Oct;38(10):981-92. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199610000-00008.

Abstract

In this article, we examine the health and economic implications of a workplace smoking-cessation program by using a simulation model that includes, among its novel features, consideration of long-term as well as short-term implications and evaluation of the effects of employee turnover on benefits derived by both the firm and the broader community. As a result of employee turnover, approximately half of the program-generated benefits are realized by the community outside the firm. Still, smoking cessation is a very sound economic investment for the firm, and is particularly profitable when long-term benefits are included, with an eventual benefit-cost ratio of 8.75. Saving life-years at a cost of $894 each, the program is more cost-effective than most of the conventional medical care covered by the firm's insurance. Nevertheless, the intervention successfully addresses only a fraction of the costs that smoking imposes on the firm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Adult
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Efficiency, Organizational
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Health Services Research*
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Life
  • Male
  • Models, Econometric
  • Occupational Health Services / economics*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / economics
  • Smoking / mortality
  • Smoking Cessation / economics*