Nudges for Research Participation

Overseen By Molly Volkmar

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Utah

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how behavioral nudges (gentle prompts) in recruitment materials affect participation in a minimal-risk interview study among healthy adults. Participants will be split into two groups: one receiving materials with these nudges and the other receiving standard materials. The researchers aim to determine if the nudges increase participation rates. Healthy adults who speak English and are interested in interview studies may be a good fit.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance recruitment strategies in future studies.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications, but it seems unlikely since the study involves minimal risk interviews with healthy adults.

What prior data suggests that these recruitment nudges are safe?

Research has shown that using behavioral nudges in studies is generally safe for participants. Nudges are gentle prompts or suggestions that guide behavior without involving medication or medical procedures.

Studies have found that nudges effectively encourage adherence to health guidelines, indicating that people respond well without harmful effects. One study found that altering how information is presented, such as offering a range of options, can help people maintain desired behaviors without negative reactions.

Overall, no evidence suggests that nudges cause harm, making them a low-risk method to encourage participation in research studies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Nudges for Research Participation" trial because it explores how behavioral nudges can improve recruitment for research studies. Unlike traditional recruitment methods that rely on standard materials, this approach uses psychological triggers to encourage participation. By understanding how subtle changes in communication can influence decisions, this trial could lead to more effective recruitment strategies, enhancing the diversity and size of study populations and potentially speeding up the pace of medical research advancements.

What evidence suggests that recruitment nudges are effective for increasing participation?

Research has shown that simple reminders or prompts, known as behavioral nudges, can encourage more people to join clinical trials. In this trial, participants in the "Recruitment nudges" arm will receive recruitment materials containing these nudges, making participation easier and more appealing. Studies have found that these techniques increase participant numbers by simplifying decision-making. A review also found that nudges help people manage their health better, suggesting effectiveness in research settings too. Overall, evidence supports the idea that nudges can boost participation in research studies. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kimberly Kaphingst, ScD

Principal Investigator

University of Utah

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adults aged 18 or older. It's designed to see how well different recruitment strategies work when asking people to join a low-risk health research study.

Inclusion Criteria

English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Recruitment

Participants receive recruitment materials with or without behavioral nudges and decide on participation

4 weeks

Remote interaction

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement with outreach materials and agreement to participate in the interview study

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Recruitment Nudges

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of 'recruitment nudges'—subtle changes in the way invitations are presented—to encourage participation in an interview-based research project.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Recruitment nudges Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive recruitment materials that contain a set of behavioral nudges

Group II: Recruitment control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive standard recruitment materials

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Utah

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Collaborator

Trials

394

Recruited

404,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The concept of 'nudgeability' suggests that people's responsiveness to nudges is influenced more by their personal preferences than by the transparency of the nudge or their thinking mode.

The study indicates that individuals cannot be nudged into choices they fundamentally do not want, which implies that concerns about the legitimacy of nudging as a policy tool may be overstated.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nudgeability: Mapping Conditions of Susceptibility to Nudge Influence. de Ridder, D., Kroese, F., van Gestel, L.[2022]

A behavioral nudge survey aimed at improving enrollment in a critical care randomized controlled trial did not significantly increase enrollment rates compared to standard informed consent procedures, with 29% enrollment in the nudge group versus 34% in the standard group among 182 surrogate decision-makers.

The study found that white surrogate decision-makers were more likely to enroll patients than non-white decision-makers, and those who perceived a higher risk of participation were less likely to enroll, indicating potential demographic and perception-related factors influencing enrollment in critical care trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Behavioral Nudges to Improve Enrollment in Critical Care Trials. Krutsinger, DC., O'Leary, KL., Ellenberg, SS., et al.[2021]

In a pilot study with 213 primary care patients, providing quantitative information about colorectal cancer screening significantly increased the likelihood of patients getting screened compared to those who did not receive this information.

While a nudge towards stool testing (FIT) increased perceived risk of colorectal cancer, it did not lead to a higher screening uptake, suggesting that simply nudging patients may not be as effective as providing clear quantitative data.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Providing Quantitative Information and a Nudge to Undergo Stool Testing in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Schwartz, PH., Perkins, SM., Schmidt, KK., et al.[2018]

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of both clinician- and patient-directed nudges to increase the completion of serious illness conversations (SICs) among high-risk cancer patients, involving 166 clinicians and approximately 5500 patients.

The primary outcome will be the time to SIC documentation, with secondary outcomes including palliative care referrals and the use of aggressive end-of-life care, aiming to improve patient outcomes and promote health equity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Behavioral economic implementation strategies to improve serious illness communication between clinicians and high-risk patients with cancer: protocol for a cluster randomized pragmatic trial. Takvorian, SU., Bekelman, J., Beidas, RS., et al.[2022]

Nudges can effectively change behavior by modifying the decision-making environment without limiting options or altering financial incentives, as shown in a review of 174 articles across various disciplines.

Nudges that automate decision-making processes have a greater average effect size (Cohen's d of 0.193) compared to other types of nudges, highlighting the importance of understanding which nudges are most effective for future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nudging: Progress to date and future directions. Beshears, J., Kosowsky, H.[2021]

In a study involving 88 early childhood education centers, incorporating nudge strategies into workshop invitations did not significantly increase registration rates compared to generic invitations, with only 25% of the intervention group registering versus 20% in the control group.

The study found no significant differences in invitation recall or acceptability between the two groups, suggesting that low-intensity behavioral nudges may not be effective in promoting participation in nutrition education workshops.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Nudge Strategies on Nutrition Education Participation in Child Care: Randomized Controlled Trial. Grady, A., Barnes, C., Lum, M., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12453566/

Recruitment Techniques Used for Clinical Trials and the ... The study then assessed whether these techniques were seen as nudges and explored their ethical implications for informed decision-making. Keywords: Recruitment ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-participation-2-2025-1c31e

Nudges for Research Participation What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Recruitment Nudges? Research shows that behavioral nudges can help increase enrollment in clinical trials.

3. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/59/NCT03284359/Prot_SAP_ICF_000.pdf

A Randomized Trial of Behavioral Nudges to Improve ... Recruitment to randomised trials: strategies for trial enrollment and participation study. The STEPS study. Health technology assessment (Winchester ...

4. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e47121

Behavioral Economic Strategies to Improve Enrollment Rates ... Background: Nearly 1 in 3 clinical trials end prematurely due to underenrollment. Strategies to enhance recruitment are often implemented ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851019302283

The effectiveness of nudges in improving the self ... In this systematic literature review, we identify evidence on the effectiveness of nudges in improving the self-management of adults with chronic diseases ...

6. nature.com nature.com/articles/s44271-025-00276-9

Range nudges enhance behavioural adherence to safety ... the Range Nudge—reframing a single limit as a range—reduces non-adherence behaviour compared to presenting only one limit ...

7. implementationscience.biomedcentral.com implementationscience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13012-020-01011-0

Nudge strategies to improve healthcare providers ... This study sought to describe the application and effects of nudge strategies on clinician implementation of health-related guidelines, policies and practices.