Walk Long and Prosper: What Is the Optimal Way to Help People Achieve Their Goals?

Excerpt

In this month’s issue of the JGIM, Patel and colleagues1 report the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with the goal of increasing the activity of sedentary US employees assigned to one of four reimbursement schemes. Over the 13-week intervention period, four-person teams were eligible for prizes based on achieving 7000 steps. Qualification for a prize was dependent on the reimbursement plan into which they were assigned. These included 1) $0 (control group), 2) $50 if the 7000 step goal was reached by the individual (individual incentive), 3) $50 if the 7000 step goal was reached by all team members (team incentive) or 4) $20 for reaching an individual goal of 7000 steps + $10 for every other team member reaching the goal (combined incentive). Receipt of a prize was contingent on winning a lottery that was held every other day during which a team from each of the four reimbursement plans was selected and paid according to its performance on the prior day. …