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NCT05080179 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA

Impact of Nudges on Downloads of COVID-19 Exposure Notification Smartphone Apps: A Randomized Trial

A NA study of COVID-19, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania.

Completed
Registry status
NA
Development phase
16,903
Enrollment target
1
Study location

NCT05080179: Completed NA study of COVID-19, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania.

NCT05080179 is a NA study of COVID-19 that has completed, run by University of Pennsylvania. The registered enrollment target is 16,903 participants, below the 38,408-participant average among 298 other COVID-19 trials with a reported enrollment target (56% lower). The trial reports 1 study location across 1 state. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.

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The verdict

NCT05080179, a NA study of COVID-19, has completed, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania.

COMPLETED
Registry status
NA
Development phase
16,903 participants
Enrollment target
1
Study location

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.

Primary Outcome

The investigators measured choice to click on the link to download the COVID Alert PA app or not, conditional on opening the email. Because participants may not immediately open their e-mail, or may return to the e-mail to click the link, we allowed for a period of approximately 7 weeks or 48 days from date of initial e-mail for completion of outcome measure.

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

FieldValue
Enrollment Target 16,903 participants
Start Date 2020-12-11
Est. Completion 2021-01-28
Phase NA
University of Pennsylvania

1,423 total trials

What the finished NCT05080179 record still lists

NCT05080179 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. Its 16,903 participants enrollment target places it among the larger protocols in the corpus, below the 38,408-participant average among 298 other COVID-19 trials with a reported enrollment target (56% lower).

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.

NCT05080179 reports a single indexed study location in Pennsylvania.

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.

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).

Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT05080179?

This trial is sponsored by University of Pennsylvania, which has 1,423 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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.

Similar trials for COVID-19

Matched on the same primary condition, ranked to surface studies in the same phase first, then by recruiting status, no relevance scoring or editorial curation.

Where NCT05080179's enrollment target sits among peer trials

16,903 21st of 298 higher than 278 of 298 other COVID-19 trials

participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other COVID-19 trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08

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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05080179, the US trial registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine. NCT05080179 (large enrollment · single site footprint · completed) retrieved and formatted by PlainTrial, see methodology.