Cost-effectiveness of peer-delivered physical activity promotion and maintenance programs for initially sedentary breast cancer survivors.

Sustained physical activity (PA) among cancer survivors can increase survival and decrease the recurrence of cancer. However, it has been challenging to encourage cancer survivors to sustain exercise programs. In this study, we sought to understand whether two types of peer support interventions shown to sustain PA among cancer survivors can do so cost-effectively. Based on our previous study showing that weekly text messages or monthly personalized phone calls can help cancer survivors exercise more and for a longer period of time, we conducted this study to understand which intervention is more cost-effective to implement. We found that text messages are more cost-effective than personalized phone calls, costing $14,446 for every additional quality-adjusted life year gained and $0.95 for every additional minute of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week compared to the comparator group of cancer survivors who only received educational support at the beginning of the study.