Increasing Organ Donor Registration as a Means to Increase Transplantation: An Experiment With Actual Organ Donor Registrations (Wave 1)

Last registered on June 24, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Increasing Organ Donor Registration as a Means to Increase Transplantation: An Experiment With Actual Organ Donor Registrations (Wave 1)
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013502
Initial registration date
June 10, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
June 24, 2024, 9:40 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Judd Kessler
Affiliation
Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alvin Roth
PI Affiliation
Stanford University
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2010-08-06
End date
2012-04-13
Keywords
Behavior, Health, Lab
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The U.S. has a severe shortage of organs for transplant. Recently — inspired by research based on hypothetical choices — jurisdictions have tried to increase organ donor registrations by changing how the registration question is asked. We evaluate these changes with a novel "field-in-the-lab" experiment, in which subjects change their real organ donor status, and with new donor registration data collected from U.S. states. A "yes/no" frame is not more effective than an "opt-in" frame, contradicting conclusions based on hypothetical choices, but other question wording can matter and asking individuals to reconsider their donor status increases registrations.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Kessler, Judd and Alvin Roth. 2024. "Increasing Organ Donor Registration as a Means to Increase Transplantation: An Experiment With Actual Organ Donor Registrations (Wave 1)." AEA RCT Registry. June 24. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13502-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2010-08-06
Intervention End Date
2012-04-13

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Organ donor registration status.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
In Wave 1 of our field-in-the-lab experiment, 372 participants were recruited to the Computer Lab for Experimental Research (CLER) at Harvard University on one of 26 dates between August 2010 and April 2012. Recruitment information informed potential participants they needed a Massachusetts driver's license, learner's permit, or state identification card and the last four digits of their social security number to participate in the study, but participants were not informed in advance that the study concerned organ donation. Participants received $15 for participating in the study. Everyone who arrived at the laboratory and had the required Massachusetts credentials was allowed to participate.

Subjects were randomly asked about organ donor registration with an opt-in frame or a yes/no frame. In the opt-in frame, subjects were given the opportunity to change their organ donor status by checking a box and clicking "continue". Leaving the box blank and clicking continue kept their organ donor registration status unchanged. In the yes/no frame, subjects were provided with two radio buttons, one that would add them to the organ and tissue donor registry (or leave them on the registry if they were already on it) and one that would leave them off the registry (or remove them from the registry if they were already on it). In the yes/no frame, subjects were required to check one of the buttons and click "continue" before continuing with the rest of the study.

In Wave 1, we also independently randomized the information provided to subjects on the decision screen. Some subjects were randomly provided with a list of organs that might be donated in the event of deceased donation.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization was conducted via computer software housed in the Computer Lab for Experimental Research (CLER) at Harvard University.
Randomization Unit
Individuals.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
372 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
372 individuals.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
183 individuals in the yes/no frame and 189 individuals in the opt-in frame.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Harvard University IRB
IRB Approval Date
2010-07-27
IRB Approval Number
00000109
IRB Name
University of Pennsylvania IRB
IRB Approval Date
2012-03-20
IRB Approval Number
815310
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials