A nurse completes a cost-accounting study on a program that targets obese adults, helping them to adopt healthier lifestyle choices. The nurse would like to compare the program's cost to the cost savings in the health care system by preventing chronic illnesses. Which of the following types of studies would be most appropriate to use in this situation?

A. Cost-efficiency study: Assesses how efficiently resources are used but doesn’t compare monetary benefits to costs. B. Cost-accounting study: Focuses on calculating actual expenditures, not comparing them to potential savings. C. Cost-effectiveness study: Compares health outcomes to costs, not financial savings directly. D. Cost-benefit study: This type of study evaluates whether the monetary benefits of an intervention outweigh the costs. It’s best for comparing program expenses with potential savings from prevented chronic illnesses.