Murphy Aileen, Kirby Ann, De Blasio Federica, McCarthy Megan, Shiely Frances, Hegarty Josephine, Davoren Martin P, Harrington Janas M, Shorter Gillian W, Murphy David, O'Mahony Billy, Cooke Eoghan, Rovito Michael J, Robertson Steve, FitzGerald Serena, Connor Alan O, Riordan Mícheál O, Saab Mohamad M
Department of Economics, Cork University Business School, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Pharmacoecon Open. 2025 Mar 19. doi: 10.1007/s41669-025-00571-5.
Virtual reality (VR) is potentially effective in raising awareness of testicular diseases, promoting self-examination and early help-seeking among men. This paper presents an early economic evaluation exploring the potential cost-effectiveness of Enhancing Men's Awareness of Testicular diseases (E-MAT), a VR interactive experience compared with E-MAT, electronic information, among male athletes Results from this economic evaluation will inform and support the design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Results from an Irish feasibility trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05146466) with 74 participants conducted in 2022 were employed. Benefits were measured in monetary units whereby the contingent valuation method was used to elicit participants' preferences through willingness-to-pay measures. A micro-cost analysis estimated the costs of the intervention and comparator and subsequent resource use. The costs and benefits of E-MAT and E-MAT were compared to determine the net benefit. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted.
Base case analysis suggests participants were willing to pay €21.88 for E-MAT and €11.16 for E-MAT. The total cost of E-MAT was €104.09 and of E-MAT was €22.75 per participant. These estimates include capital and delivery costs, of which delivery costs were €25.02 and €22.40 for E-MAT and E-MAT, respectively. A negative net benefit indicates E-MAT was not cost-beneficial as delivered in the feasibility trial. Scenario analyses demonstrated reducing costs via delivery modifications increased the probability of E-MAT being considered cost-effective. The cost-benefit analysis was feasible, response rates were acceptable, and willingness-to-pay estimates were stable.
Economic evaluations alongside feasibility trials enable early economic evaluations, informing the design and conduct of a future RCT. E-MAT had higher expected benefits (WTP) and costs than E-MAT, yielding a negative net benefit. Given the high cost of digital health interventions, investigating their cost-effectiveness early is important to inform and optimize resource allocation decisions. We present a series of scenarios to demonstrate how delivery modifications to reduce costs could improve the likelihood of E-MAT being considered cost-effective.
虚拟现实（VR）在提高男性对睾丸疾病的认识、促进自我检查以及促使男性尽早寻求帮助方面可能具有成效。本文进行了一项早期经济评估，探讨增强男性对睾丸疾病的认识（E-MAT）这一VR互动体验相较于电子信息（E-MAT）对男性运动员的潜在成本效益。该经济评估的结果将为未来随机对照试验（RCT）的设计提供信息并给予支持。
采用了2022年在爱尔兰进行的一项可行性试验（ClinicalTrials.gov标识符：NCT05146466）的结果，该试验有74名参与者。效益以货币单位衡量，通过使用条件估值法，通过支付意愿措施来获取参与者的偏好。微观成本分析估计了干预措施和对照措施以及后续资源使用的成本。比较了E-MAT和E-MAT的成本与效益，以确定净效益。还进行了敏感性分析。
基础案例分析表明，参与者愿意为E-MAT支付21.88欧元，为E-MAT支付11.16欧元。E-MAT的每位参与者总成本为104.09欧元，E-MAT为22.75欧元。这些估计包括资本成本和交付成本，其中E-MAT和E-MAT的交付成本分别为25.02欧元和22.40欧元。负净效益表明，在可行性试验中实施的E-MAT不具有成本效益。情景分析表明，通过修改交付方式降低成本会增加E-MAT被认为具有成本效益的可能性。成本效益分析是可行的，响应率是可接受的，支付意愿估计是稳定的。
与可行性试验一起进行经济评估能够实现早期经济评估，为未来RCT的设计和实施提供信息。E-MAT比E-MAT具有更高的预期效益（支付意愿）和成本，产生了负净效益。鉴于数字健康干预措施成本高昂，尽早调查其成本效益对于为资源分配决策提供信息并进行优化非常重要。我们提出了一系列情景，以展示如何通过修改交付方式降低成本，从而提高E-MAT被认为具有成本效益的可能性。
