As the aging population grows, they take up a larger share of the health and social care budget. There’s a considerable amount of evidence suggesting that arts and creativity interventions can enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of older adults. However, the value and cost-effectiveness of such interventions remain unclear.
A systematic review of the economic evidence related to these interventions was carried out, following PRISMA guidelines. The review included a search of bibliographic databases, trial registries, and grey literature, without any language or temporal restrictions. The review was performed by health economists experienced in a systematic literature review, and the methodological quality was assessed. Key information was extracted and tabulated to provide an overview of the published literature. The review did not include a meta-analysis.
Cost-Effectiveness of Arts and Creativity Interventions for Aging Population’s Well-being
Only six studies provided evidence on the value or cost-effectiveness of arts and creativity interventions to improve health and well-being in older adults. The identified evidence was promising, as five out of the six studies reported an acceptable probability of cost-effectiveness or positive return on investment, ranging from £1.20 to over £8 for every £1 of expenditure. However, there was significant heterogeneity observed in terms of study participants, design, and outcomes assessed. Potential biases inherent in social value analyses were of particular concern.
Despite many studies reporting positive health and well-being benefits of arts and creativity interventions for older adults, scarce evidence was found on their value or cost-effectiveness. Generating such evidence is costly and time-consuming, but necessary if innovative non-pharmacological interventions are to be introduced to minimize the illness burden in this population and ensure efficient use of public funds. The review suggests that data on the value and cost-effectiveness of these interventions should be prioritized. Additionally, research efforts should be directed toward developing evaluative methods that move beyond current health technology assessment frameworks, to capture a broader picture of ‘value’ more applicable to arts and creativity interventions and public health interventions in general.
Original Article DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17369-x
Original title: Arts and creativity interventions for improving health and wellbeing in older adults: a systematic literature review of economic evaluation studies
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