Reminders, Cost Sharing, and Healthcare Use

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

47398 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-10-01

Study Completion Date

2022-04-01

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The investigators conduct a large-scale randomized controlled trial in Finland by sending three types of information letters to households to examine whether the reminder letters affect healthcare use. All letters remind of the importance of seeking care to treat potential health problems.

This study has two primary objectives are: to evaluate the effects of an information nudge reminding on the importance of diagnosing and treating health problems and to evaluate the effects of additionally providing information on the fact that primary care nurse visits have become exempt from copayments. Main outcomes include the number of primary care nurse visits and general practitioner (GP) visits in a six-month follow-up.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Effect of Reminders on Adherence

NCT02411006

Diabetes Hypertension

COMPLETED NA

Evidence-Based Medicine Electronic Decision Support Study

NCT00915304

Decision Support Systems, Clinical

COMPLETED PHASE1/PHASE2

Preserving ACTs - Text Reminders to Increase Adherence to ACT Treatment

NCT01722734

Malaria

COMPLETED NA

Email-based Reminders Promoting Recommended Pediatric Preventative Visits

NCT05317884

Immunization Programs

COMPLETED NA

Information Provision and Consistency Framing to Increase COVID-19 Booster Uptake

NCT05586178

COVID-19 Vaccines

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

This study has two main objectives: (i) to evaluate the effect of an information nudge reminding on the importance of diagnosing and treating health problems and (ii) to evaluate the effect of providing information on the fact that primary care nurse visits have become exempt from co-payments.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Health Care Utilization Health Care Seeking Behavior Health Behavior

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a randomized controlled trial with three active treatment arms and a control group (not assigned to any treatment, information and services as usual).

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

This is a randomized experiment in which individuals receive different types of reminders. All outcome variables are based on administrative (secondary) data. Individuals receiving letters and care providers are not aware of the experiment. Investigators will not have any contact with the participants.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Basic letter

This reminder states that if healthcare is not consumed at the right time, health may deteriorate and diagnoses and treatment may be delayed.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Reminder (information letter)

Intervention Type OTHER

Reminders

Co-pay

This reminder states that if healthcare is not consumed at the right time, health may deteriorate and diagnoses and treatment may be delayed AND informs recipients about a new law that abolished all co-payments for all primary care nurse visits in Finland.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Reminder (information letter)

Intervention Type OTHER

Reminders

GP-Co-pay

This reminder states that if healthcare is not consumed at the right time, health may deteriorate and diagnoses and treatment may be delayed AND informs recipients about a new law that abolished all co-payments for all primary care nurse visits in Finland, AND informs recipients that the new law did not abolish co-payments related to general practitioner visits.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Reminder (information letter)

Intervention Type OTHER

Reminders

Control treatment

There is no intervention in the control treatment. The entire population aged 55 and above in the treatment regions will serve as a control group.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Reminder (information letter)

Reminders

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Residency in one of the 25 target municipalities as of September 15, 2021.
* Born in 1966 or earlier (aged 55 or more at the end of 2021).
* Living in a household with a maximum of three individuals aged 55 or above.