A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the use of financial incentives to encourage uptake of healthy behaviours
Emma Giles (Fuse)
10.00, Tuesday 9 July. The Clubhouse, level 4
Objectives
Using financial incentives to encourage healthy behaviours is increasingly common. We assessed the effectiveness of financial incentives for encouraging uptake of healthy behaviours amongst adults living in high-income countries.
Methods
Searches of relevant databases and grey literature found 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria. These focused on smoking cessation (n=10), attendance for vaccination and screening (n=5), and physical activity (n=1). Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted on three groups of comparisons: smoking cessation up to six months (n=13 comparisons), smoking cessation beyond six months (n=8 comparisons), and attendance for vaccination or screening (n=9 comparisons). Meta-regressions explored whether effect size varied by incentive value or (for smoking cessation studies only) follow-up period.
Results
Meta-analysis revealed that the average effect of financial incentives in all three groups was greater than control (relative risk (95% confidence intervals): 2.48 (1.77 to 3.46) for smoking cessation up to six months: 1.50 (1.05 to 2.14) for smoking cessation beyond six months; 1.92 (1.46 to 2.53) for attendance for vaccination or screening).
Meta-regression found no evidence that follow-up period was associated with effect size in any group of comparisons. There was some evidence that effect size increased with incentive value in smoking cessation studies beyond six months (beta (95%CI): 0.001 (0.0002 to 0.003)).
Conclusions
The available evidence suggests that the average effect of financial incentives is greater than that of usual care or no intervention for encouraging smoking cessation and attendance for vaccination and screening.
Using financial incentives to encourage healthy behaviours is increasingly common. We assessed the effectiveness of financial incentives for encouraging uptake of healthy behaviours amongst adults living in high-income countries.
Methods
Searches of relevant databases and grey literature found 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria. These focused on smoking cessation (n=10), attendance for vaccination and screening (n=5), and physical activity (n=1). Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted on three groups of comparisons: smoking cessation up to six months (n=13 comparisons), smoking cessation beyond six months (n=8 comparisons), and attendance for vaccination or screening (n=9 comparisons). Meta-regressions explored whether effect size varied by incentive value or (for smoking cessation studies only) follow-up period.
Results
Meta-analysis revealed that the average effect of financial incentives in all three groups was greater than control (relative risk (95% confidence intervals): 2.48 (1.77 to 3.46) for smoking cessation up to six months: 1.50 (1.05 to 2.14) for smoking cessation beyond six months; 1.92 (1.46 to 2.53) for attendance for vaccination or screening).
Meta-regression found no evidence that follow-up period was associated with effect size in any group of comparisons. There was some evidence that effect size increased with incentive value in smoking cessation studies beyond six months (beta (95%CI): 0.001 (0.0002 to 0.003)).
Conclusions
The available evidence suggests that the average effect of financial incentives is greater than that of usual care or no intervention for encouraging smoking cessation and attendance for vaccination and screening.