Browsing by Subject "Nudges"

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    Healthy nudges: exploring their variability, limitations, and future challenges
    (Elsevier, 2025-03-11) Abellán Perpiñan, José María; Sánchez Martínez, Fernando Ignacio; Martínez Pérez, Jorge Eduardo; Martínez Gabaldón, Eduardo; Economía Aplicada
    Objective: To review several behavioral economics-based interventions (“healthy nudges”) aimed at mit-igating the overuse and underuse of healthcare resources —phenomena associated with poorer healthoutcomes and increased costs.Method: A comparative case study approach is used to assess the effectiveness of ten studies designed toimprove treatment adherence and prevent underuse, as well as those focused on improving prescribingpractices to address overuse.Results: First, healthy nudges are generally effective, although there is considerable variability in theiroutcomes. Effectiveness compared to the control group ranges from 5% to over 30%. Second, similar strate-gies may yield divergent results depending on the context (e.g., medication adherence vs. vaccinationuptake). Third, the effect of healthy nudges appears to diminish after the intervention ends, especiallyfor economic incentives. However, default options seem to remain persistent over time.Conclusions: The article examines the pros and cons of healthy nudges in the use and provision of health-care services. The evidence gathered from the selected studies suggests that nudges may help rationalizehealthcare use. However, challenges remain, such as ensuring the long-term persistence of effects andevaluating their impact on well-being and cost-effectiveness.