Exercise Physiology interventions give over 10:1 benefit to cost ratio
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) engaged Deloitte Access Economics to quantify the value of accredited exercise physiologists from the perspective of consumers in Australia. And according to the report, The value of accredited exercise physiologists to consumers in Australia, working with the right expert can not only save lives, but also saves money.
CEO of ESSA, Anita Hobson-Powell, said, “Despite Australia’s equitable health system, about 17% of costs are borne by the individual and/or their families. Also, the cost is likely to be higher for people living with multiple chronic disease and disease that have progressed to become more severe. This report will hopefully provide evidence that shows if you get the right help from the beginning, you can save your money.”
Key findings from the report include:
- The overall benefits of accredited exercise physiologist interventions for the average Australian living with a chronic condition, such as depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were estimated to be $6,562 per person in 2016.
- Benefits were mostly comprised of improved wellbeing ($6,234, or 93%). The remaining benefits were made up of improved consumer productivity ($259, or 6%) and reduced consumer health system expenditure ($69, or 1%).
- Every dollar spent on exercise physiologists interventions result in $10.50 in improved health, productivity and reduced out-of-pocket expenses.
- People living with cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were found to gain the most out of seeing an accredited exercise physiologist, $7,606 and $6,629 in net benefits respectively.
ESSA commissioned this report as they believed that the work of accredited exercise physiologist is invaluable, and to have the evidence to prove their value is truly ground breaking.
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