NCT04917926

Behavioural Economics-based Incentives in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes (BET2)

Effectiveness of Behavioural Economics-based Incentives on Glycaemic Control and Lifestyle in Adults With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: a Randomised Control Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 122 (actual)
• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 30 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

A randomised control trial of adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to assess the effectiveness of behavioural economics-based incentives on healthy lifestyle behaviour, using a pragmatic trial approach.

Detailed description

This is a randomised control trial of adults aged 30-70 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes within a year in Hong Kong to compare the effectiveness of financial incentives and combined financial and social incentives against a control group receiving standard care. We plan to recruit 261 participants and follow them for 9-months (6-month intervention period and a 3-month post-intervention follow-up period) to assess glycemic control and other health indicators. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups (in ratio 1:1:1): arm A (financial incentives in addition to standard care), arm B (financial and social incentives in addition to standard care), and arm C (control arm receiving standard care). Financial incentives will be framed around loss aversion and the endowment effect. Social incentives will include peer competition, and social support. Financial and social incentives are to encourage increased physical activity and participants will use a pedometer to track activity. Participants are followed for an additional 3-months after the cessation of incentives to assess the sustainability of lifestyle changes. This trial adopts a pragmatic study design based on the PRECIS-2 tool and RE-AIM frameworks.

Conditions

• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Financial and social incentives	Participants will be credited with HK$1,000 in their virtual accounts at the beginning of the trial. After baseline step counts are gathered in the second week, they will lose HK$40 for each subsequent week that they do not meet their personal weekly step target. Regarding social incentives, participants will be placed in teams of six, receiving feedback of their physical activity performance, rankings within their groups, and positive messages for encouragement. Nominated supporters will be informed of participants' performance for social support.
BEHAVIORAL	Financial incentives	Participants will be credited with HK$1,000 in their virtual accounts at the beginning of the trial. After baseline step counts are gathered in the second week, they will lose HK$40 for each subsequent week that they do not meet their personal weekly step target.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-06-21
• Primary completion: 2023-12-31
• Completion: 2023-12-31
• First posted: 2021-06-08
• Last updated: 2024-05-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong