Health EquityNCT05185687
Public Support for COVID-19 Test Allocation
A study testing First Come, First Served, Random and Disadvantaged Priority & Random in people with Health Equity and COVID-19, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
In a randomized survey experiment, investigators will assess public support or opposition towards one of three potential government plans for allocating at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests to United States residents: 1) first come, first served; 2) a random draw; or 3) a random draw with 20% of tests… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Health Equity, COVID-19
- What is being tested?
- First Come, First Served, Random and Disadvantaged Priority & Random
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 2,019 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 4 Jan 2022to 6 Jan 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 years old or older, United States resident
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Harris Insights & Analytics
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20006
About this study
Official title: Race, Status, Vaccines, Tests, and Place: Public Attitudes and Support for Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine and Test Allocation
In a randomized survey experiment, investigators will assess public support or opposition towards one of three potential government plans for allocating at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests to United States residents: 1) first come, first served; 2) a random draw; or 3) a random draw with 20% of tests reserved for disadvantaged areas. Investigators will also examine public attitudes surrounding other logistical and equity-related aspects of these allocation plans.
Read the detailed description
Complementing other efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing in the United States, the federal government recently announced the purchase of 500,000,000 at home COVID-19 to be distributed for free "to Americans that want them". A central logistical element in matching supply with demand will be a website, on which people will register their interest in getting tests delivered to their home address. However, it is still unclear how supply will be matched with demand. Three main candidate options are first come, first served (FCFS), in which people are sent tests in the order in which they make requests; a random draw, such as a lottery; or a combination of a random draw with a guaranteed reserved amount for more disadvantaged populations. FCFS is a widely known and practiced rationing principle, but it has shown to exacerbate inequities in, for example, the allocation of vaccine appointments. Random draws can mitigate this impact, but, in the present context, might be insufficiently sensitive to the fact that not everyone has internet access, and that the need for testing is greater among more disadvantaged communities. Combining a lottery with a disadvantage reserve system using measures such as the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index is a practical way of promoting equity, and it was already used by the majority of US states in allocating vaccines. The main objective of this study is to assess public support for each of these three allocation plans and describe differences by demographic characteristics. Investigators will also assess public attitudes toward specific details of these allocation plans. The study, which is expected to take approximately 5 minutes to complete, will be administered as part of an omnibus online survey.
- Conditions
- Health Equity, COVID-19
- Being tested
- First Come, First Served, Random, Disadvantaged Priority & Random
- Keywords
- Allocation of Healthcare Resources
- Medical subject headings
- COVID-19
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
First Come, First ServedBehavioural
Respondents will view the following description of the plan: "Tests will be sent out in the order they are requested. People who request tests the quickest will get them first, no matter where they live. People who request tests later may not get any. This strategy is also known as 'First Come, First Served.'"
RandomBehavioural
Respondents will view the following description of the plan: "People who request tests will be entered into a random drawing, like a sweepstakes or lottery. Everyone who is in the drawing has the same chance of getting tests, no matter where they live, but some people may not get any tests."
Disadvantaged Priority & RandomBehavioural
Respondents will view the following description of the plan: "Because COVID-19 has hit people living in disadvantaged areas of the country harder, a proportion of tests will be sent exclusively to people in these zip codes. Planners will allocate 80% of the tests using a random drawing, like a sweepstakes or lottery. Everyone who is in the drawing has the same chance of getting tests, no matter where they live. The remaining 20% are set aside exclusively for the most disadvantaged areas, again allocated with a random drawing. Some people may not get any tests. But people living in disadvantaged areas are more likely to get them."
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| First Come, First Served | Experimental | Respondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:"
Below this statement, respondents will view the "First Come, First Served" plan description. Receives: Behavioral: First Come, First Served |
| Random | Experimental | Respondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:"
Below this statement, respondents will view the "Random" plan description. Receives: Behavioral: Random |
| Disadvantaged Priority & Random | Experimental | Respondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:"
Below this statement, respondents will view the "Disadvantaged Priority \& Random" plan description. Receives: Behavioral: Disadvantaged Priority & Random |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Support for allocation plan
Self-reported degree of support for the plan, measured on a 5-point Likert scale ("strongly oppose" to "strongly support") that will be collapsed into 3 response categories ("oppose," "neutral," and "support") for analysis.
Measured: 5 minutes
Secondary outcomes (2)
Household-level test allocation preference
Preferred way of sending tests to households, measured as a binary choice between a fixed or variable (based on household size) number of tests per household.
Measured: 5 minutes
Tests allocated to disadvantaged areas
Self-reported percentage of tests wanted to be sent to disadvantaged areas, measured as a continuous variable on a slider from 0% to 100% with increments of 0.1%. This outcome will only be measured for respondents in the "Disadvantaged Priority \& Random" condition.
Measured: 5 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jan 2022
- Study start4 Jan 2022
- Primary completion6 Jan 2022
- Study completion6 Jan 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Health EquityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 2,019 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Alison Buttenheim, University of Pennsylvania
- Investigators
- Alison M Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, Principal investigator, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05185687
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 848725
- Other IDs
- #84525
- Status last verified
- Jan 2022
- First submitted
- 7 Jan 2022
- Last updated
- 11 Jan 2022
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Only de-identified individual participant data will be shared by Harris Insights \& Analytics to the research team. Each participant will have a unique identifier to protect their confidentiality. Only authorized research personnel will have access to the data which will be maintained on encrypted hard-drives. Individual participant data may be made available to other researchers in an open-access repository.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Jan 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Race, Status, Vaccines, Tests, and Place: Public Attitudes and Support for Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine and Test Allocation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05185687
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 848725
- Conditions
- Health Equity, COVID-19
- Keywords
- Allocation of Healthcare Resources
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 2,019 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 Jan 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Jan 2022 (actual)
- 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.
In a randomized survey experiment, investigators will assess public support or opposition towards one of three potential government plans for allocating at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests to United States residents: 1) first come, first served; 2) a random draw; or 3) a random draw with 20% of tests reserved for disadvantaged areas. Investigators will also examine public attitudes surrounding other logistical and equity-related aspects of these allocation plans.
Detailed description
Complementing other efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing in the United States, the federal government recently announced the purchase of 500,000,000 at home COVID-19 to be distributed for free "to Americans that want them". A central logistical element in matching supply with demand will be a website, on which people will register their interest in getting tests delivered to their home address. However, it is still unclear how supply will be matched with demand. Three main candidate options are first come, first served (FCFS), in which people are sent tests in the order in which they make requests; a random draw, such as a lottery; or a combination of a random draw with a guaranteed reserved amount for more disadvantaged populations. FCFS is a widely known and practiced rationing principle, but it has shown to exacerbate inequities in, for example, the allocation of vaccine appointments. Random draws can mitigate this impact, but, in the present context, might be insufficiently sensitive to the fact that not everyone has internet access, and that the need for testing is greater among more disadvantaged communities. Combining a lottery with a disadvantage reserve system using measures such as the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index is a practical way of promoting equity, and it was already used by the majority of US states in allocating vaccines. The main objective of this study is to assess public support for each of these three allocation plans and describe differences by demographic characteristics. Investigators will also assess public attitudes toward specific details of these allocation plans. The study, which is expected to take approximately 5 minutes to complete, will be administered as part of an omnibus online survey.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| First Come, First Served | Experimental | Behavioral: First Come, First ServedRespondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:" Below this statement, respondents will view the "First Come, First Served" plan description. |
| Random | Experimental | Behavioral: RandomRespondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:" Below this statement, respondents will view the "Random" plan description. |
| Disadvantaged Priority & Random | Experimental | Behavioral: Disadvantaged Priority & RandomRespondents will view the following description: "The US government will make 500 million COVID-19 home tests available for free. US residents can ask for tests by entering their home address in a website. It is likely that more people will want tests than will be available. How should the government decide who will receive tests, when there are not enough for all who want them? One plan that is being considered is this one:" Below this statement, respondents will view the "Disadvantaged Priority \& Random" plan description. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Aged 18 years old or older, United States resident
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| First Come, First ServedRespondents will view the following description of the plan: "Tests will be sent out in the order they are requested. People who request tests the quickest will get them first, no matter where they live. People who request tests later may not get any. This strategy is also known as 'First Come, First Served.'" | Behavioural | First Come, First Served |
| RandomRespondents will view the following description of the plan: "People who request tests will be entered into a random drawing, like a sweepstakes or lottery. Everyone who is in the drawing has the same chance of getting tests, no matter where they live, but some people may not get any tests." | Behavioural | Random |
| Disadvantaged Priority & RandomRespondents will view the following description of the plan: "Because COVID-19 has hit people living in disadvantaged areas of the country harder, a proportion of tests will be sent exclusively to people in these zip codes. Planners will allocate 80% of the tests using a random drawing, like a sweepstakes or lottery. Everyone who is in the drawing has the same chance of getting tests, no matter where they live. The remaining 20% are set aside exclusively for the most disadvantaged areas, again allocated with a random drawing. Some people may not get any tests. But people living in disadvantaged areas are more likely to get them." | Behavioural | Disadvantaged Priority & Random |
Primary outcome
Support for allocation plan
Time frame: 5 minutes
Self-reported degree of support for the plan, measured on a 5-point Likert scale ("strongly oppose" to "strongly support") that will be collapsed into 3 response categories ("oppose," "neutral," and "support") for analysis.
2 secondary outcomes
Household-level test allocation preference
Time frame: 5 minutes
Tests allocated to disadvantaged areas
Time frame: 5 minutes
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 11 Jan 2022.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Only de-identified individual participant data will be shared by Harris Insights \& Analytics to the research team. Each participant will have a unique identifier to protect their confidentiality. Only authorized research personnel will have access to the data which will be maintained on encrypted hard-drives. Individual participant data may be made available to other researchers in an open-access repository.
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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.
Alison M Buttenheim, PhD, MBA principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing First Come, First Served, Random and Disadvantaged Priority & Random in people with Health Equity and COVID-19, run by University of Pennsylvania 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 1 inclusion and 1 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 11 Jan 2022. 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.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Support for allocation plan (time frame: 5 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 11 Jan 2022.