Using Lottery-Based Financial Incentives to Improve Warfarin Adherence
Author Information
Author(s): Kevin G Volpp, George Loewenstein, Andrea B Troxel, Jalpa Doshi, Maureen Price, Mitchell Laskin, Stephen E Kimmel
Primary Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Hypothesis
Can a lottery-based daily financial incentive improve warfarin adherence and anticoagulation control?
Conclusion
A daily lottery-based financial incentive showed significant potential for improving warfarin adherence and anticoagulation control.
Supporting Evidence
- The first pilot study showed a decrease in out-of-range INRs from 35.0% to 12.2% during the intervention.
- The mean proportion of incorrect pills taken dropped from 22% to 2.3% in the first pilot.
- In the second pilot, the time out of INR range decreased from 65.0% to 40.4%.
Takeaway
This study tested a fun way to help people remember to take their medicine by using a lottery. It worked well to get people to take their warfarin correctly.
Methodology
Two pilot studies with 10 participants each used a lottery system to incentivize adherence to warfarin over a 3-month period.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the non-randomized design and small sample size.
Limitations
The study was not a randomized controlled trial, and the effects may not be sustained long-term.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 21 and older from the University of Pennsylvania Anticoagulation Management Center.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website