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Impact of Nudges on Downloads of COVID-19 Exposure Notification Smartphone Apps: A Randomized Trial
NCT05080179 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Eligible participants who were active beneficiaries of a large insurer living in Pennsylvania were sent an email encouraging them to download the contact tracing app in Pennsylvania, COVID Alert PA. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 (Self-benefit vs. Other-Benefit) x 2 (Social Norms Present vs. Social Norms absent) design. All participants received an email that said : "COVID Alert PA is the official Exposure Notification App from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Join Penn Medicine in the fight against COVID-19 and download COVID Alert PA today!" ---Investigators manipulated the content here--- "The app uses Bluetooth to sense when one person is in close contact with another person with the app. If someone tests positive for COVID-19, and they decide to upload the information to the health department, people who have the app and who have been in contact with them will be alerted. If you are interested in downloading the app, please click COVID Alert PA. We appreciate you joining our efforts. Together we can beat COVID-19!" In the Other-Benefit condition, it said: "It can help you reduce your risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to your friends, family, and larger community." In the Self-Benefit condition, it said: "It can help you determine where and when to get testing, and how to get care if you need it." In the Social Norms Present condition, it said: "Over 650,000 Pennsylvanians have already downloaded the app!" In the Social Norms Absent condition, it said the statement about social norms above. Participants who do not open the initial email received a follow-up email.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Self-Benefit/Social Norm
- BEHAVIORAL Self-Benefit/No Social Norm
- BEHAVIORAL Other Benefit/Social Norm
- BEHAVIORAL Other Benefit/No Social Norm
Study Locations (1)
Pennsylvania
- Independence Blue Cross (IBX) — Philadelphia
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 16,903 participants |
| Start Date | 2020-12-11 |
| Est. Completion | 2021-01-28 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT05080179
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT05080179 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 16,903 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Pennsylvania, which has 1,457 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with COVID-19 appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 4 interventions — of which Self-Benefit/Social Norm is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT05080179 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Pennsylvania. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT05080179 about?
NCT05080179 is a clinical study titled "Impact of Nudges on Downloads of COVID-19 Exposure Notification Smartphone Apps: A Randomized Trial". Eligible participants who were active beneficiaries of a large insurer living in Pennsylvania were sent an email encouraging them to download the contact tracing app in Pennsylvania, COVID Alert PA. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 (Self-benefit vs. Other-Bene...
What is the current status of trial NCT05080179?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 16,903 participants. The study started on 2020-12-11. Estimated completion is 2021-01-28.
What conditions does trial NCT05080179 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: COVID-19. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT05080179?
The interventions under investigation include: Self-Benefit/Social Norm (BEHAVIORAL), Self-Benefit/No Social Norm (BEHAVIORAL), Other Benefit/Social Norm (BEHAVIORAL), Other Benefit/No Social Norm (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05080179?
This trial is sponsored by University of Pennsylvania, which has 1,457 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT05080179 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Pennsylvania. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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