Trial Outcomes & Findings for Impact of Nudges on Downloads of COVID-19 Exposure Notification Smartphone Apps: A Randomized Trial (NCT NCT05080179)
NCT ID: NCT05080179
Last Updated: 2023-08-28
Results Overview
The investigators measured choice to click on the link to download the COVID Alert PA app or not, conditional on opening the email. Because participants may not immediately open their e-mail, or may return to the e-mail to click the link, we allowed for a period of approximately 7 weeks or 48 days from date of initial e-mail for completion of outcome measure.
Recruitment status
COMPLETED
Study phase
NA
Target enrollment
16903 participants
Primary outcome timeframe
48 days
Results posted on
2023-08-28
Participant Flow
39,938 Pennsylvania members of a larger insurer were randomly assigned to receive one email in a 2 (Focus on Self vs. Focus on Others) x 2 (Social Norm vs. No Social Norm) design. 16,903 members opened the e-mail - this is considered enrollment for the purposes of our study.
For this study, participants are considered enrolled once they open the e-mail that is sent to them by the large private insurer.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Self-Benefit/Social Norm
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Self-Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
Other Benefit/Social Norm
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Other Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Other Benefit/No Social Norm
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Other Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
4232
|
4246
|
4211
|
4214
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
353
|
380
|
355
|
744
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
3879
|
3866
|
3856
|
3470
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Self-Benefit/Social Norm
n=4232 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Self-Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm
n=4246 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
Other Benefit/Social Norm
n=4211 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Other Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Other Benefit/No Social Norm
n=4214 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Other Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
Total
n=16903 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Continuous
|
46.85 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.33 • n=4232 Participants
|
47.31 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.26 • n=4246 Participants
|
46.74 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.39 • n=4211 Participants
|
46.83 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.43 • n=4214 Participants
|
46.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.35 • n=16903 Participants
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Male
|
1720 Participants
n=4232 Participants
|
1686 Participants
n=4246 Participants
|
1762 Participants
n=4211 Participants
|
1798 Participants
n=4214 Participants
|
6966 Participants
n=16903 Participants
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Female
|
2512 Participants
n=4232 Participants
|
2560 Participants
n=4246 Participants
|
2449 Participants
n=4211 Participants
|
2416 Participants
n=4214 Participants
|
9937 Participants
n=16903 Participants
|
|
Sex/Gender, Customized
Unknown
|
0 Participants
n=4232 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4246 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4211 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4214 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=16903 Participants
|
|
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
|
|
Region of Enrollment
United States
|
4232 participants
n=4232 Participants
|
4246 participants
n=4246 Participants
|
4211 participants
n=4211 Participants
|
4214 participants
n=4214 Participants
|
16903 participants
n=16903 Participants
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: 48 daysPopulation: Pennsylvania members of large private insurer.
The investigators measured choice to click on the link to download the COVID Alert PA app or not, conditional on opening the email. Because participants may not immediately open their e-mail, or may return to the e-mail to click the link, we allowed for a period of approximately 7 weeks or 48 days from date of initial e-mail for completion of outcome measure.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Self-Benefit/Social Norm
n=4232 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Self-Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm
n=4246 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
Other Benefit/Social Norm
n=4211 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
Other Benefit/Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." and "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!"
|
Other Benefit/No Social Norm
n=4214 Participants
As part of their email, they read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They did not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
Other Benefit/No Social Norm: As part of their email, they will read, "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." They will not read any information about the number of Pennsylvanians who downloaded the app.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Click on Link to Download COVID Alert PA App
Number opened e-mail
|
4232 Participants
|
4246 Participants
|
4211 Participants
|
4214 Participants
|
|
Click on Link to Download COVID Alert PA App
Number clicked link
|
353 Participants
|
380 Participants
|
355 Participants
|
744 Participants
|
Adverse Events
Self-Benefit/Social Norm
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Self-Benefit/No Social Norm
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Other Benefit/Social Norm
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Other Benefit/No Social Norm
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Dr. Erica Dixon
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Phone: 215-573-9987
Email: [email protected]
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place