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Review
. 2022 May;22(5):219-226.
doi: 10.1007/s11892-022-01460-5. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Applying Behavioral Economics Theories to Interventions for Persons with Diabetes

Susana R Patton  1 , Christopher C Cushing  2 , Amy Hughes Lansing  3
Affiliations
Review

Applying Behavioral Economics Theories to Interventions for Persons with Diabetes

Susana R Patton et al. Curr Diab Rep. 2022 May.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose of review: To introduce behavioral economics (BE), provide a description of how recent prevention and treatment interventions in persons with diabetes have incorporated BE in their intervention strategies, and discuss how BE could be used to inform new treatments for the clinical setting or research.

Recent findings: In most of the trials described, researchers incorporated BE into their design in the form of incentives, which can align with present bias, optimism bias, and loss aversion. With only two exceptions, these trials reported preliminary support for using incentives to promote lifestyle modifications and diabetes-related tasks. Additionally, two trials reported promising results for behavior change strategies informed by default bias, while three trials reported promising results for behavior change strategies informed by social norms. Recent trials incorporating BE in prevention and treatment interventions for persons with diabetes generally report promising results, though gaps exist for research and clinical deployment.

Keywords: Adult; Behavioral economics; Diabetes; Lifestyle modifications; Pediatrics; Prevention; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests: Dr. Patton reports grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases during the conduct of the study and a grant from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust outside of the submitted work; Dr. Cushing has nothing to disclose; Dr. Hughes Lansing reports a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences during the conduct of the study.

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