Reality Check 2: The Cost-Effectiveness of Policy Disallowing Body Checking in Non-Elite 13- to 14-Year-Old Ice Hockey Players.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 18(12)2021 06 11.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34207977
ABSTRACT
Sport-related injuries are the leading cause of injury in youth and are costly to the healthcare system. When body checking is disallowed in non-elite levels of Bantam (ages 13-14 years) ice hockey, the injury rate is reduced, but the impact on costs is unknown. This study compared rates of game injuries and costs among non-elite Bantam ice hockey leagues that disallow body checking to those that did not. Methods:
An economic evaluation was conducted alongside a prospective cohort study comparing 608 players from leagues where body checking was allowed in games (Calgary/Edmonton 2014-2015, Edmonton 2015-2016) with 396 players from leagues where it was not allowed in games (Vancouver, Kelowna 2014-2015, Calgary in 2015-2016). The effectiveness measure was rate of game injuries per 1000 player-hours. Costs were estimated based on associated healthcare use within the publicly funded healthcare system as well as privately paid healthcare costs. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted using bootstrapping.Results:
Disallowing body checking reduced the rate of injuries by 4.32 per 1000 player-hours (95% CI -6.92, -1.56) and reduced public and total healthcare system costs by $1556 (95% CI -$2478, -$559) and $1577 (95% CI -$2629, -$500) per 1000 player-hours, respectively. These finding were robust in over 99% of iterations in sensitivity analyses in the public healthcare and the total healthcare system perspectives. There was no statistically significant difference in privately paid healthcare costs (-$65 per 1000 player-hours (95% CI -$220, $99)).Interpretation:
Disallowing body checking in non-elite 13-14-year-old ice hockey nationally would prevent injuries and reduce public healthcare costs.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Athletic Injuries
/
Brain Concussion
/
Hockey
Type of study:
Evaluation_studies
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canadá