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 .
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Financial Incentives to Low Income Pregnant Women to Engage in Smoking Cessation Treatment: Effects on Post-Birth Abstinence
Objective : Evaluate the effectiveness of monetary incentives for increasing engagement in smoking  cessation treatment and improving 6-month abstinence in low-income pregnant smokers . Method : Two-group r and omized clinical trial recruiting low-income ( Medicaid-registered ) pregnant smokers receiving assistance through a perinatal support program . Participants were r and omized to either an incentive ( n = 505 ) or control condition  ( n = 509 ) . All participants were offered identical smoking cessation counseling at contacts . Incentive condition participants received incentives for attending pre- and postbirth treatment contacts : $ 25 for each of 6 prebirth provider visits , $ 25–40 for each of 4 postbirth home visits at Weeks 1 , 2 , 4 , and 6 ( total = $ 130 ) , $ 20 for each of 5 postbirth counseling calls and $ 40 for biochemically verified abstinence at the Week 1 and 6-month visits . Control condition participants received only $ 40 for attendance at the Week 1 and 6-month postbirth visits ( $ 40 each ) . Main outcomes : Primary outcome was biochemically confirmed 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 6-month postbirth follow-up . Secondary outcomes included number of home visits and phone calls taken over the first 6 months postbirth ; biochemically confirmed abstinence at postbirth Week 1 visit ; and self-reported smoking status at 2- and 4-month visits . Results : Incentive condition participants had a higher biochemically confirmed abstinence rate at 6-month postbirth than controls ( 14.7 % vs. 9.2 % , respectively : p < .01 ) . This effect was mediated by incentive condition participants ’ greater acceptance of postbirth home visits and counseling calls . Conclusions : Moderate incentive payments for smoking treatment engagement ( a mean of ≈$214 paid ) increased low-income pregnant smokers ’ engagement and success in smoking cessation treatment
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 .