Economic Evaluations of Interventions Against Influenza at Workplaces: Systematic Review

Authors

Sylvia Ofori, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Y. W. HungFollow
Jessica S. Schwind, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Kadiatou Diallo, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Doyinsola Babatunde, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Samuel Nwaobi, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Xinyi Hua, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Kelly L. Sullivan, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Benjamin J. Cowling, The University of Hong KongFollow
Gerardo Chowell, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Isaac Fung, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping HsuFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-21-2021

Publication Title

Occupational Medicine

DOI

10.1093/occmed/kqab163

Abstract

Background

The burden of influenza is mostly felt by employees and employers because of increased absenteeism rates, loss of productivity and associated direct costs. Even though interventions against influenza among working adults are effective, patronage and compliance to these measures especially vaccination are low compared to other risk groups.

Aims

This study was aimed to assess evidence of economic evaluations of interventions against influenza virus infection among workers or in the workplace setting.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guideline for systematic reviews was followed. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science and EconLit, were searched using keywords to identify relevant articles from inception till 25 October 2020. Original peer-reviewed papers that conducted economic evaluations of influenza interventions using cost–benefit, cost–effectiveness or cost–utility analysis methods focused on working-age adults or work settings were eligible for inclusion. Two independent teams of co-authors extracted and synthesized data from identified studies.

Results

Twenty-four articles were included: 21 were cost–benefit analyses and 3 examined cost–effectiveness analyses. Two papers also presented additional cost–utility analysis. Most of the studies were pharmaceutical interventions (n = 23) primarily focused on vaccination programs while one study was a non-pharmaceutical intervention examining the benefit of paid sick leave. All but two studies reported that interventions against influenza virus infection at the workplace were cost-saving and cost-effective regardless of the analytic approach.

Conclusions

Further cost–effectiveness research in non-pharmaceutical interventions against influenza in workplace settings is warranted. There is a need to develop standardized methods for reporting economic evaluation methods to ensure comparability and applicability of future research findings.

Comments

Georgia Southern University faculty member, Jessica S. Schwind, Kelly L. Sullivan, and Isaac C.H. Fung co-authored Economic Evaluations of Interventions Against Influenza at Workplaces: Systematic Review.

Recommended Citation

Ofori, Sylvia, Y. W. Hung, Jessica S. Schwind, Kadiatou Diallo, Doyinsola Babatunde, Samuel Nwaobi, Xinyi Hua, Kelly L. Sullivan, Benjamin J. Cowling, Gerardo Chowell, Isaac Fung. 2021. "Economic Evaluations of Interventions Against Influenza at Workplaces: Systematic Review." Occupational Medicine, 72 (2): 70-80: Oxford Academic. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqab163
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/bee-facpubs/356