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 .
Understanding and Misunderstanding Randomized Controlled Trials
RCTs would be more useful if there were more realistic expectations of them and if their pitfalls were better recognized . For example , and contrary to many cl aims in the applied literature , r and omization does not equalize everything but the treatment across treatments and controls , it does not automatically deliver a precise estimate of the average treatment effect ( ATE ) , and it does not relieve us of the need to think about ( observed or unobserved ) confounders . Estimates apply to the trial sample only , sometimes a convenience sample , and usually selected ; justification is required to extend them to other groups , including any population to which the trial sample belongs . Dem and ing “ external validity � ? is unhelpful because it expects too much of an RCT while undervaluing its contribution . Statistical inference on ATEs involves hazards that are not always recognized . RCTs do indeed require minimal assumptions and can operate with little prior knowledge . This is an advantage when persuading distrustful audiences , but it is a disadvantage for cumulative scientific progress , where prior knowledge should be built upon and not discarded . RCTs can play a role in building scientific knowledge and useful predictions but they can only do so as part of a cumulative program , combining with other methods , including conceptual and theoretical development , to discover not “ what works , � ? but “ why things work � ?
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 .