Cash incentives versus defaults for HIV testing: A randomized clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tools from behavioral economics have been shown to improve health-related behaviors, but the relative efficacy and additive effects of different types of interventions are not well established. We tested the influence of small cash incentives, defaults, and both in combination on increasing patient HIV test acceptance.

Methods and findings

We conducted a randomized clinical trial among patients aged 13-64 receiving care in an urban emergency department. Patients were cross-randomized to $0, $1, $5, and $10 incentives, and to opt-in, active-choice, and opt-out test defaults. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who accepted an HIV test. 4,831 of 8,715 patients accepted an HIV test (55.4%). Those offered no monetary incentive accepted 51.6% of test off

SUBMITTER: Montoy JCC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6034801 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature