Our primary conclusion is that there is a lack of compelling evidence that incentives of any form represent a compelling NCD reduction strategy .
The rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases ( NCDs ) poses substantial health and economic challenges to both individuals and society .
Application of incentive-based strategies based on traditional and behavioural economic theory has emerged as a potential strategy to address rising rates of NCDs .
Yet , whether or not incentives truly represent a promising strategy for addressing NCDs has not been systematic ally addressed nor is it clear whether certain behavioural economic strategies outperform others or simply offering a cash-based incentive for meeting a goal .
In this systematic review we aim to determine whether there is an evidence base for any of these strategies .
Examining two different schedules of financial incentives for smoking cessation among pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE To examine whether an efficacious voucher-based incentives intervention for decreasing smoking during pregnancy and increasing fetal growth could be improved without increasing costs . The strategy was to redistribute the usual incentives so that higher values were available early in the quit attempt . METHOD 118 pregnant smokers in greater Burlington , Vermont ( studied December , 2006-June , 2012 ) were r and omly assigned to the revised contingent voucher ( RCV ) or usual contingent voucher ( CV ) schedule of abstinence-contingent vouchers , or to a non-contingent voucher ( NCV ) control condition wherein vouchers were provided independent of smoking status . Smoking status was biochemically verified ; serial sonographic estimates of fetal growth were obtained at gestational weeks 30 - 34 . RESULTS RCV and CV conditions increased point-prevalence abstinence above NCV levels at early ( RCV : 40 % , CV : 46 % , NCV : 13 % , p=.007 ) and late-pregnancy ( RCV : 45 % ; CV : 36 % ; NCV , 18 % ; p=.04 ) assessment s , but abstinence levels did not differ between the RCV and CV conditions . The RCV intervention did not increase fetal growth above control levels while the CV condition did so ( p<.05 ) . CONCLUSION This trial further supports the efficacy of CV for increasing antepartum abstinence and fetal growth , but other strategies ( e.g. , increasing overall incentive values ) will be necessary to improve outcomes further
Our primary conclusion is that there is a lack of compelling evidence that incentives of any form represent a compelling NCD reduction strategy .
The rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases ( NCDs ) poses substantial health and economic challenges to both individuals and society .
Application of incentive-based strategies based on traditional and behavioural economic theory has emerged as a potential strategy to address rising rates of NCDs .
Yet , whether or not incentives truly represent a promising strategy for addressing NCDs has not been systematic ally addressed nor is it clear whether certain behavioural economic strategies outperform others or simply offering a cash-based incentive for meeting a goal .
In this systematic review we aim to determine whether there is an evidence base for any of these strategies .