Evaluation of Emails Promoting Mail-order Pharmacy

NCT ID: NCT04587063

Last Updated: 2020-10-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

5266 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-10-13

Study Completion Date

2020-10-20

Brief Summary

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In this evaluation, four versions of emails will be sent to eligible health plan members who are not currently enrolled in the health system's mail-order pharmacy. A control group will not receive any communication. The researchers hypothesize that the use of content informed by behavioral nudge theory in the emails should lead to increased enrollment in the health system's mail-order pharmacy.

Detailed Description

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The utilization of a mail-order pharmacy can increase adherence to medications. The health system's mail-order pharmacy (from here, simply referred to as mail-order pharmacy) can also provide reduced costs for medications. Ongoing outreach efforts involve sending emails and other communications encouraging enrollment in Geisinger's mail-order pharmacy to eligible members of the system's health plan (i.e., those who take maintenance medications). The study will compare a standard promotional email from these outreach efforts, as well as three new emails with content informed by behavioral science research, against a no-contact control arm and each other.

Conditions

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Health Care Utilization

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

1 x 5 design
Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Caregivers
Participants and providers are not aware that different mailer versions exist, and they do not know what elements in the letter are being tested.

Study Groups

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Standard Email

The "standard of care" email is the same as one used in prior outreach efforts at the health system, emphasizing reduced cost for medications and convenience.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Highlighting Cost Savings and Convenience

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Email with Healthcare Cost Savings

The email emphasizes future reductions in healthcare costs due to increased adherence with mail-order pharmacy, in addition to mentioning reduced prices for medications. It also uses fear appeals by stating the risk of hospital stays and how mail-order pharmacy could be an easily-achievable way to avoid this negative consequence.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Fear Appeals

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Message about Future Healthcare Costs

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Highlighting Cost Savings and Convenience

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Email with Endorsement

The email is a letter from a doctor at the health system's health plan--who may been seen as a trusted source of information--encouraging the benefits of using a mail-order pharmacy.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Endorsement from a Doctor

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Highlighting Cost Savings and Convenience

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Email with Comparison Table

The email includes a table comparing the benefits and drawbacks of mail-order and chain pharmacies, which appeals to their sense of agency and allows them to make the choice that best suits them.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Comparison Table

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

Highlighting Cost Savings and Convenience

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Email

No Contact

Members do not receive an email.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Fear Appeals

Email

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Message about Future Healthcare Costs

Email

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Endorsement from a Doctor

Email

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Comparison Table

Email

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Highlighting Cost Savings and Convenience

Email

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* An active member of the health plan (Medicare, Commercial, or Exchange)
* Currently prescribed maintenance medications
* Not currently subscribed to the health system's mail-order pharmacy
* Has an email on record

Exclusion Criteria

* Explicitly opted out of receiving emails from the health system
* Only has eligible current prescriptions for fewer than 28 days
* Only has prescriptions that cannot be sent via mail-order pharmacy (e.g., antidepressants, specialty-tier drugs)
* Is a Medicare member in the coverage gap
* Shares an email address with another selected participant (who was randomly chosen for inclusion among all those sharing the same email address)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Geisinger Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Amir Goren

Program Director, Behavioral Insights Team

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Amir Goren, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Geisinger Clinic

Locations

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Geisinger

Danville, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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2020-0482

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id