Reality Check 2: The Cost-Effectiveness of Policy Disallowing Body Checking in Non-Elite 13- to 14-Year-Old Ice Hockey Players

Gillian R. Currie, Raymond Lee, Luz Palacios-Derflingher, Brent Hagel, Amanda M. Black, Shelina Babul, Martin Mrazik, Deborah A. Marshall and Carolyn A. Emery
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Gillian R. Currie: Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
Raymond Lee: Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
Luz Palacios-Derflingher: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Brent Hagel: Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
Amanda M. Black: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Shelina Babul: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
Martin Mrazik: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada
Deborah A. Marshall: Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
Carolyn A. Emery: Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-10

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, however 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 the 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 3.02 per 1000 player hours (95% CI ?4.01, ?1.35) and reduced public and total healthcare system costs by $ 1084 (95% CI $ ?1716, $ ?416) and $ 1100 (95% CI $ ?1804, $ ?346 per 1000 player-hours, respectively. These findings 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 ($ ?46 per 1000 player hours (95% CI $ ?156, $ 70)). Interpretation: Disallowing body checking in non-elite 13–14-year-old ice hockey nationally would prevent injuries and reduce public healthcare costs.

Keywords: economic evaluation; injury prevention; body checking policy; hockey; youth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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