Estimating the return on investment of a randomised controlled trial on telehealth-based medical nutrition intervention in rural and regional Australia

A randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been proposed to embed a telehealth intervention within primary healthcare for reducing diet-related cardio vascular disease (CVD) risk in adults living in rural and remote regions. The RCT is expected to inform policy related to access to cost-effective clinical care for CVD prevention. This report aimed to assess the value for money of this RCT as an exemplar of a clinical trial addressing the healthcare needs of remote and regional populations in Australia.The total expected monetary benefit of the RCT is around $60.20 million. Comparing this figure with the proposed RCT budget of $1.03 million, for each $1 of funding received, the proposed RCT is expected to return $58 in value.