Economic evaluations of eHealth interventions targeting mental health problems in the workplace: a systematic review

Stijn Peeters; Merel Hilgersom; Frederique van Krugten; Beatriz Olaya; Josep Maria Haro; Christina M. van der Feltz-Cornelis; Leona Hakkaart - van Roijen

doi:10.1080/09638237.2024.2390371

Economic evaluations of eHealth interventions targeting mental health problems in the workplace: a systematic review

Stijn Peeters^*
, Merel Hilgersom
, Frederique van Krugten
, Beatriz Olaya
, Josep Maria Haro
, Christina M. van der Feltz-Cornelis
, Leona Hakkaart - van Roijen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management (ESHPM)
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)
Research and Development Unit
University of Barcelona
Research and Development Unit
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Tilburg University
GGz Breburg
Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction
VU University Medical Center
University of York
University College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

133 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background:

Work-related mental health problems impose significant economic and personal burdens. eHealth interventions may offer low-cost, practical solutions, but guidance on their cost-effectiveness in workplace mental health is limited.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to systematically review economic evaluations of workplace eHealth interventions for mental health, offering insights into methodologies and cost-effectiveness outcomes.

Methods:

Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, PsycInfo and EconLit databases in May 2022, selecting peer-reviewed papers that performed economic evaluations on workplace eHealth interventions for adult mental health. Quality was assessed using the Drummond checklist.

Results:

From 3213 references, eight met the inclusion criteria. These studies varied in economic perspective, types of economic analysis type, primary outcome measures, intervention focus (e.g. stress, alcohol, insomnia & return-to-work) and direct non-medical costs. Five eHealth interventions were found to be cost-effective and/or have a positive return on investment, with seven studies rated as high quality according to the Drummond checklist.

Conclusions:

The study outcomes unveiled the potential cost-effectiveness of eHealth interventions targeting mental health issues, particularly these focusing on workplace stress. However, generalization is challenging due to variations in the methodologies across studies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	580-595
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Mental Health
Volume	34
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2024.2390371
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

The research leading to this results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 848180 and the National Health and
Medical Research Council of Australia (APP1195937). B.O. is supported by the Miguel Servet (CP20/00040) contract, funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1080/09638237.2024.2390371Licence: CC BY

Economic evaluations of eHealth interventions targeting mental health problems in the workplaceFinal published version, 2.24 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Economic evaluations of eHealth interventions targeting mental health problems in the workplace: a systematic review",

abstract = "Background: Work-related mental health problems impose significant economic and personal burdens. eHealth interventions may offer low-cost, practical solutions, but guidance on their cost-effectiveness in workplace mental health is limited. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review economic evaluations of workplace eHealth interventions for mental health, offering insights into methodologies and cost-effectiveness outcomes. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, PsycInfo and EconLit databases in May 2022, selecting peer-reviewed papers that performed economic evaluations on workplace eHealth interventions for adult mental health. Quality was assessed using the Drummond checklist. Results: From 3213 references, eight met the inclusion criteria. These studies varied in economic perspective, types of economic analysis type, primary outcome measures, intervention focus (e.g. stress, alcohol, insomnia \& return-to-work) and direct non-medical costs. Five eHealth interventions were found to be cost-effective and/or have a positive return on investment, with seven studies rated as high quality according to the Drummond checklist. Conclusions: The study outcomes unveiled the potential cost-effectiveness of eHealth interventions targeting mental health issues, particularly these focusing on workplace stress. However, generalization is challenging due to variations in the methodologies across studies.",

author = "Stijn Peeters and Merel Hilgersom and \{van Krugten\}, Frederique and Beatriz Olaya and Haro, \{Josep Maria\} and \{van der Feltz-Cornelis\}, \{Christina M.\} and \{Hakkaart - van Roijen\}, Leona",

note = "The research leading to this results has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 848180 and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (APP1195937). B.O. is supported by the Miguel Servet (CP20/00040) contract, funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”)",

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AU - Haro, Josep Maria

AU - van der Feltz-Cornelis, Christina M.

AU - Hakkaart - van Roijen, Leona

N1 - The research leading to this results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 848180 and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (APP1195937). B.O. is supported by the Miguel Servet (CP20/00040) contract, funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”)

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N2 - Background: Work-related mental health problems impose significant economic and personal burdens. eHealth interventions may offer low-cost, practical solutions, but guidance on their cost-effectiveness in workplace mental health is limited. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review economic evaluations of workplace eHealth interventions for mental health, offering insights into methodologies and cost-effectiveness outcomes. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, PsycInfo and EconLit databases in May 2022, selecting peer-reviewed papers that performed economic evaluations on workplace eHealth interventions for adult mental health. Quality was assessed using the Drummond checklist. Results: From 3213 references, eight met the inclusion criteria. These studies varied in economic perspective, types of economic analysis type, primary outcome measures, intervention focus (e.g. stress, alcohol, insomnia & return-to-work) and direct non-medical costs. Five eHealth interventions were found to be cost-effective and/or have a positive return on investment, with seven studies rated as high quality according to the Drummond checklist. Conclusions: The study outcomes unveiled the potential cost-effectiveness of eHealth interventions targeting mental health issues, particularly these focusing on workplace stress. However, generalization is challenging due to variations in the methodologies across studies.

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Economic evaluations of eHealth interventions targeting mental health problems in the workplace: a systematic review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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