A Test of Different Degrees of Cost Sharing on Program Uptake and Attendance

University of Pennsylvania

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Different levels of cost sharing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01756066

816444

Details and patient eligibility

About

To test the uptake of four different cost sharing discounts for enrolling in the Weight Watchers weight loss program as well as outcomes (program attendance and weight loss) over 12 months.

Enrollment: 1,239 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Must be employee of Vanguard Health Systems over the age of 18
2. Must have a BMI of 21 or greater

Exclusion criteria

1. Must not be under the age of 18
2. Must not have a BMI lower than 21

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,239 participants in 4 patient groups

A

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participant has 50% subsidy, i.e. gets a 50% discount off regular price of the program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Different levels of cost sharing

B

Experimental group

Description:

Participant has 100% subsidy, i.e. program attendance is free

Treatment:

Behavioral: Different levels of cost sharing

C

Experimental group

Description:

Participant has 80% subsidy; i.e. gets 80% discount off regular price of the program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Different levels of cost sharing

D

Experimental group

Description:

Participant has 50% subsidy up front (i.e. pays 50%), with possibility for 100% subsidy based on attaining monthly participation goals

Treatment:

Behavioral: Different levels of cost sharing