HealthyNCT00097461
Revising Employee Benefits for the Sake of Health
An observational study of Healthy, run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will explore ways in which employee benefits may be designed to improve people's health, through examining the viewpoints and preferences of low-income people. A person's health is affected not only by being able to receive health care but also by several factors such as income and education. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- How many people
- 408 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 28 Sep 2004to 18 Apr 2017
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Men and women who are between the ages of 18-65, and are employed with an income of up to three times the federal poverty level will be included in this study so that information can be learned about the employee benefit preferences of low-income employees.
- Minority individuals, particularly African Americans and English speaking Hispanics will be included, and will be recruited to represent one third of the study sample because of the high prevalence of minorities among the low-income population in the US.
Who cannot join
- Non-English speakers will be excluded because they will be unable to participate in the discussion that participants engage in about the reasons for their benefit choices.
- Individuals who cannot read at a 6th grade level, will be excluded because they will have difficulty reading information provided on the computer screen during the exercise.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
This study will explore ways in which employee benefits may be designed to improve people's health, through examining the viewpoints and preferences of low-income people. A person's health is affected not only by being able to receive health care but also by several factors such as income and education. People with lower incomes have been found to be not as healthy as those with higher incomes. While the governments of many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are currently working on public policy to address this topic, the likelihood is small that the United States, given its market-based economy, will do the same. However, owing to the heavy reliance in the United States on employer-sponsored health insurance, it would be useful to explore the possibility of insuring some of the measures that people can take to improve their health, and to do that through employee benefit packages. Solutions might include extended unemployment insurance, more education, job training, exercise programs, help for housing, disability insurance, and extra retirement benefits.
Adults who have a minimum of a sixth-grade reading level, have low incomes, are English speaking may be eligible for this study. For recruitment, 400 people who live and work in the Washington, D.C, area will be invited to participate, and about12 people will take part in each session. Unless people in the study participate during working hours, they will each be paid $75 at the conclusion of the session.
The study consists of one phase, in which participants will engage in a group exercise that lasts for approximately 2-1/2 hours. During that time, participants will have the chance to say what employee benefits they would choose, if the opportunity arose, to improve their health. They will first make those choices by themselves and then make choices along with other people in the group. While group members talk, the discussion will be recorded on a tape recorder. Participants will be asked to give information about themselves and their opinions but will not be asked for any information that identifies them personally, except for data needed to pay participants with a paycheck. They will also get to use a computer and will be shown how to use it, if necessary. If videotaping or photographs are done during the exercise, the investigators of the study will ask for separate signed permission to do so. Participants will be asked to respect the privacy of others in the group and to not discuss the opinions of others after leaving the session.
Read the detailed description
An individual's health is affected not only by access to health care but also by a number of determinants such as income and education. Individuals with low incomes are not as healthy as those with higher incomes. Thus it seems important to explore possible avenues for improving the health of low income individuals with an eye toward ameliorating the complicated determinants of health status, aside from health insurance. Many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are currently developing public policy to address this issue. In the U.S., however with its market based economy, the likelihood of adopting this public policy approach is small. Given that reality, is it possible to explore other avenues such as designing employee benefit packages with the aim of ameliorating the socio-economic determinants of health?
Objective: The goal of this project is to explore the feasibility of designing employee benefits in a manner that may improve their health, by ascertaining the perspectives and preferences of low income employees regarding employee benefits designed to ameliorate the social determinants of health. Four hundred male and female low-income individuals recruited from clinical, community, and employment settings will participate in small group exercises in which a facilitated discussion will take place using a previously tested group decision tool (CHAT: Choosing Health plans All Together) that has been modified for this project. Data will be anonymously collected regarding socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes toward health, preferences for possible employee benefits and assessment of the exercise. Group discussions will be audio-taped. Data will be analyzed quantitatively to determine preferences of employee benefits and socio-demographic factors associated with these preferences. Discussions will undergo qualitative analysis go explore the underlying reasons for participant preferences. Participants will receive $75 dollars as compensation for their participation unless they participate during working hours.
Risks and Benefits: Given the anonymous nature of the data collection we anticipate no risks other than those entailed in discussion of poor health outcomes associated with lack of insurance and low income. Participants may benefit from learning about factors that improves health status.
Outcome and Meaning to the Field: Study results will yield information about what employee benefits would be of utmost priority to low income employees. This is unique information that may contribute to efforts to find affordable strategies for ameliorating the socio-economic determinants of health for the low-income working population in the US.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Employee Health, Insurance Benefit, Fringe Benefit, Health Status, Socioeconomic Factors
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Study start28 Sep 2004
- Study completion18 Apr 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 408 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Marion Danis, M.D., Principal investigator, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00097461
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 050008
- Other IDs
- 05-CC-0008
- Status last verified
- 18 Apr 2017
- First submitted
- 23 Nov 2004
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2017
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Danis M, Biddle AK, Dorr Goold S. Insurance benefit preferences of the low-income uninsured. J Gen Intern Med. 2002 Feb;17(2):125-33. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10609.x.
PubMed 11841528Danis M, Biddle AK, Goold SD. Enrollees choose priorities for Medicare. Gerontologist. 2004 Feb;44(1):58-67. doi: 10.1093/geront/44.1.58.
PubMed 14978321
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Revising Employee Benefits for the Sake of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00097461
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 050008
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Employee Health, Insurance Benefit, Fringe Benefit, Health Status, Socioeconomic Factors
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 408 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 28 Sep 2004
- Study completion
- 18 Apr 2017
- First posted
- 24 Nov 2004 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will explore ways in which employee benefits may be designed to improve people's health, through examining the viewpoints and preferences of low-income people. A person's health is affected not only by being able to receive health care but also by several factors such as income and education. People with lower incomes have been found to be not as healthy as those with higher incomes. While the governments of many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are currently working on public policy to address this topic, the likelihood is small that the United States, given its market-based economy, will do the same. However, owing to the heavy reliance in the United States on employer-sponsored health insurance, it would be useful to explore the possibility of insuring some of the measures that people can take to improve their health, and to do that through employee benefit packages. Solutions might include extended unemployment insurance, more education, job training, exercise programs, help for housing, disability insurance, and extra retirement benefits.
Adults who have a minimum of a sixth-grade reading level, have low incomes, are English speaking may be eligible for this study. For recruitment, 400 people who live and work in the Washington, D.C, area will be invited to participate, and about12 people will take part in each session. Unless people in the study participate during working hours, they will each be paid $75 at the conclusion of the session.
The study consists of one phase, in which participants will engage in a group exercise that lasts for approximately 2-1/2 hours. During that time, participants will have the chance to say what employee benefits they would choose, if the opportunity arose, to improve their health. They will first make those choices by themselves and then make choices along with other people in the group. While group members talk, the discussion will be recorded on a tape recorder. Participants will be asked to give information about themselves and their opinions but will not be asked for any information that identifies them personally, except for data needed to pay participants with a paycheck. They will also get to use a computer and will be shown how to use it, if necessary. If videotaping or photographs are done during the exercise, the investigators of the study will ask for separate signed permission to do so. Participants will be asked to respect the privacy of others in the group and to not discuss the opinions of others after leaving the session.
Detailed description
An individual's health is affected not only by access to health care but also by a number of determinants such as income and education. Individuals with low incomes are not as healthy as those with higher incomes. Thus it seems important to explore possible avenues for improving the health of low income individuals with an eye toward ameliorating the complicated determinants of health status, aside from health insurance. Many countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are currently developing public policy to address this issue. In the U.S., however with its market based economy, the likelihood of adopting this public policy approach is small. Given that reality, is it possible to explore other avenues such as designing employee benefit packages with the aim of ameliorating the socio-economic determinants of health?
Objective: The goal of this project is to explore the feasibility of designing employee benefits in a manner that may improve their health, by ascertaining the perspectives and preferences of low income employees regarding employee benefits designed to ameliorate the social determinants of health. Four hundred male and female low-income individuals recruited from clinical, community, and employment settings will participate in small group exercises in which a facilitated discussion will take place using a previously tested group decision tool (CHAT: Choosing Health plans All Together) that has been modified for this project. Data will be anonymously collected regarding socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes toward health, preferences for possible employee benefits and assessment of the exercise. Group discussions will be audio-taped. Data will be analyzed quantitatively to determine preferences of employee benefits and socio-demographic factors associated with these preferences. Discussions will undergo qualitative analysis go explore the underlying reasons for participant preferences. Participants will receive $75 dollars as compensation for their participation unless they participate during working hours.
Risks and Benefits: Given the anonymous nature of the data collection we anticipate no risks other than those entailed in discussion of poor health outcomes associated with lack of insurance and low income. Participants may benefit from learning about factors that improves health status.
Outcome and Meaning to the Field: Study results will yield information about what employee benefits would be of utmost priority to low income employees. This is unique information that may contribute to efforts to find affordable strategies for ameliorating the socio-economic determinants of health for the low-income working population in the US.
Study design
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Men and women who are between the ages of 18-65, and are employed with an income of up to three times the federal poverty level will be included in this study so that information can be learned about the employee benefit preferences of low-income employees.
- Minority individuals, particularly African Americans and English speaking Hispanics will be included, and will be recruited to represent one third of the study sample because of the high prevalence of minorities among the low-income population in the US.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Non-English speakers will be excluded because they will be unable to participate in the discussion that participants engage in about the reasons for their benefit choices.
- Individuals who cannot read at a 6th grade level, will be excluded because they will have difficulty reading information provided on the computer screen during the exercise.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Not reported in the source record.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2017.
- Background: PubMed 11841528Danis M, Biddle AK, Dorr Goold S. Insurance benefit preferences of the low-income uninsured. J Gen Intern Med. 2002 Feb;17(2):125-33. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10609.x.
- Background: PubMed 14978321Danis M, Biddle AK, Goold SD. Enrollees choose priorities for Medicare. Gerontologist. 2004 Feb;44(1):58-67. doi: 10.1093/geront/44.1.58.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Marion Danis, M.D. principal investigator
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healthy, run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00097461, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Oct 2017.