The impact of COVID-19 treatment scarcity on the willingness to be take a treatment

Last registered on March 31, 2022
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The impact of COVID-19 treatment scarcity on the willingness to be take a treatment
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0009164
Initial registration date
March 29, 2022

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
March 31, 2022, 3:33 PM 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
Linda Thunstrom
Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Madison Ashworth
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Stephen Newbold
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Jason Shogren
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Todd Cherry
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
David Finnoff
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2022-03-25
End date
2022-04-07
Keywords
Behavior, Health
Additional Keywords
COVID-19, treatment, scarcity
JEL code(s)
D12, I12
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study examines the willingness to take COVID-19 treatments, in a context where treatments are new and in short supply. When treatments are in short supply, people will often have difficulties accessing treatments, and even more difficulties accessing their preferred treatment. We examine how people's willingness to take a COVID-19 treatment is affected by there being multiple treatments on the market, but only one of the treatments (which may or may not be the most effective treatment) is available for a person to take. Further, COVID-19 treatments (as opposed to the vaccines) need to be prescribed by providers. Providers will, however, often lack experience with the treatments, due to their novelty, and therefore may be more reluctant to prescribe them. Given family physicians are generally a highly trusted source of health information, we are particularly interested in knowing the impact on people's willingness to take a COVID-19 treatment from the treatment being prescribed by their family physician, versus another physician.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ashworth, Madison et al. 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 treatment scarcity on the willingness to be take a treatment." AEA RCT Registry. March 31. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9164-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will describe two treatments (A and B) that are available to treat COVID-19. Participants may then learn either (1) that treatment A is available to them, (2) treatment B is available to them, or (3) both treatment A and B are available to them. Further, participants will be informed that the treatments are prescribed either by their family physician, or that their family physician was unwilling to prescribe the treatment but that it has been subscribed by another physician.
Intervention Start Date
2022-03-25
Intervention End Date
2022-04-07

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Stated willingness to take a COVID-19 treatment across severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
n/a

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will vary the treatment that is available to participants (Treatment A, B or both) and whether the treatment is prescribed by their family physician or another physician. Hence, we have a 3x2 experimental design, and participants will be randomized into one of six treatment arms:

-- treatment A is available and is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment B is available and is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A and B is available and either is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A is available but is not prescribed by family physician
-- treatment B is available but is not prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A and B is available but neither is prescribed by family physician


Experimental Design Details
We will vary the treatment that is available to participants (Treatment A, B or both) and whether the treatment is prescribed by their family physician or another physician. Hence, we have a 3x2 experimental design, and participants will be randomized into one of six treatment arms:

-- treatment A is available and is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment B is available and is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A and B is available and either is prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A is available but is not prescribed by family physician
-- treatment B is available but is not prescribed by family physician
-- treatment A and B is available but neither is prescribed by family physician
Randomization Method
Computer.
Randomization Unit
Individual.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
None.
Sample size: planned number of observations
1500 individuals.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
250 individuals by treatment arm.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB at University of Wyoming
IRB Approval Date
2022-03-18
IRB Approval Number
20220304LT03260
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