Feasibility StudiesNCT06865157
Healthy Food Subsidy Project in Chile
A study testing Healthy Wallet in people with Feasibility Studies and Food Security, run by University of Chile at 1 site in Chile.
Trial summary
Feasibility Study Objective: The objective of this feasibility study is to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a healthy food subsidy program within the Chilean context. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Feasibility Studies, Food Security
- What is being tested?
- Healthy Wallet
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChile
- Study dates
- 15 May 2024to 30 Oct 2024
- 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 Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Households that are beneficiaries of the Bolsillo Familiar Electrónico program in 2023-2024 and have children under 5 years of age.
- Availability to shop at the local open-air market (feria libre).
Who cannot join
- Individuals who are market vendors (feria vendors).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Bolsillo Saludable: Feasibility of a Healthy Food Subsidy on Healthy Eating in Low-Income Households in Chile
Feasibility Study
Objective:
Read more
The objective of this feasibility study is to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a healthy food subsidy program within the Chilean context. The program, called Healthy Wallet, is a smartphone app-based initiative aimed at incentivizing low-income families to purchase fruits and vegetables at open markets. The findings from this study are intended to inform and potentially accelerate the implementation of similar policies in other countries.
Methods:
This study assessed the feasibility of implementing the Healthy Wallet subsidy program, designed to promote healthy eating habits among low-income families. The program incentivized the purchase of fruits and vegetables at local ferias (open markets) and was delivered through a smartphone application. The research adopted a community-based approach, leveraging existing social support systems to identify eligible beneficiaries and streamline the distribution of benefits. Open markets served as redemption sites for the subsidies.
The study engaged 30 families and 8 vendors in an 8-week pilot program conducted from June to August 2024. Data collection included pre- and post-implementation surveys, as well as focus group discussions: three with participating families and one with vendors. These methods aimed to evaluate the app's effectiveness, user experience, and overall feasibility of the program. Insights from the study will guide recommendations for scaling the initiative to a national level and beyond.
Read the detailed description
Study Design:
This study employed an eight-week feasibility approach (Healthy Wallet) utilizing a mixed-methods assessment. The quantitative component consisted of a pre-post single-arm study, while the qualitative component involved focus group discussions with both vendors and participants.
Intervention:
The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. The program provides a monthly electronic transfer of 16,000 CLP (approximately 17 USD) for each eligible household member, including children under 18, students under 25, and individuals with disabilities. The primary food purchaser in each household receives the transfer, which is exclusively redeemable at registered stalls in the open market.
To ensure seamless transactions, registered vendors display a distinctive Healthy Wallet identification sign with a unique code. Beneficiaries use the mobile application to view available funds and complete purchases by entering the vendor's stall code. A separate vendor application tracks sales and maintains transaction records for efficient invoicing.
Sample:
The program engaged 30 families, who received monthly benefits for two consecutive months to use at 6 participating stalls within the Juan Pinto Durán open market.
Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility aligned with Chile's existing social protection framework, leveraging the Emergency Family Wallet government subsidy established to address rising food prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Households that participated in the Emergency Family Wallet program (2023-2024) were eligible.
The designated household representative, responsible for receiving and managing the benefit, had to meet the following criteria:
Be at least 18 years old (legal age). Be a parent or guardian of a child aged 0-5 years. Be responsible for household grocery purchases. Vendors operating at the Juan Pinto Durán open market were excluded from household eligibility.
Subsidy Delivery Platform:
A private mobile application, originally developed for university food benefits, was adapted for this pilot program. A private company managed the entire process, including loading benefits into participants' accounts, facilitating their use at the Juan Pinto Durán open market, and ensuring payment to vendors. This company provided its services pro bono, offering technical expertise and logistical support at no cost.
Ethical Considerations:
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol and informed consent forms were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile.
- Conditions
- Feasibility Studies, Food Security
- Being tested
- Healthy Wallet
- Keywords
- Chile, Fruit and vegetables subsidy, Feasibility study
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Healthy WalletOther
The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over a two-month period, 30 families received monthly benefits to use at a designated open market.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Wallet | Experimental | Each eligible household receives a monthly electronic transfer of 16,000 CLP (approximately USD 17) per eligible member to purchase fruits and vegetables from authorized vendors at the Juan Pinto Durán open market. A dedicated mobile application manages the process by crediting the benefit to participants' accounts, simplifying its use at the market, and ensuring seamless payment to vendors. Receives: Other: Healthy Wallet |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.
Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.
Measured: Daily throughout the two months of follow-up
Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform
Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform
Measured: Weekly throughout the two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through online surveys
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Measured: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Mar 2025
- Study start15 May 2024
- Primary completion19 Aug 2024
- Study completion30 Oct 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Feasibility StudiesStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over the course of two months, 30 families received monthly benefits redeemable at participating stalls within the Juan Pinto Durán open market in Santiago, Chile. Registered vendors prominently displayed a distinctive Healthy Wallet identification sign with a unique code, ensuring easy identification. Beneficiaries used the mobile app to check their available funds and complete purchases by entering the stall code. Meanwhile, vendors utilized their own app to track sales and maintain transaction records, streamlining the invoicing process.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Chile
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Camila Corvalan, PhD, Principal investigator, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06865157
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 5128637
- Other IDs
- 5128637
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 21 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 7 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD data related to study protocol, statistical analysis plan and informed consent form
Publications
Huangfu P, Pearson F, Abu-Hijleh FM, Wahlich C, Willis K, Awad SF, Abu-Raddad LJ, Critchley JA. Impact of price reductions, subsidies, or financial incentives on healthy food purchases and consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Planet Health. 2024 Mar;8(3):e197-e212. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00004-4.
PubMed 38453385Andreyeva T, Marple K, Moore TE, Powell LM. Evaluation of Economic and Health Outcomes Associated With Food Taxes and Subsidies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2214371. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14371.
PubMed 35648401Berkowitz SA, Curran N, Hoeffler S, Henderson R, Price A, Ng SW. Association of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy Program With Food Purchases by Individuals With Low Income in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Aug 2;4(8):e2120377. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20377.
PubMed 34379125Pemjean I, Montes de Oca D, Lara-Arevalo J, Ng SW, Taillie LS, Corvalan C. Adoption and Acceptability of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy in Low-Income Households in Urban Chile: The Bolsillo Saludable Pilot Feasibility Study. Curr Dev Nutr. 2026 Jun 13;10(7):109394. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109394. eCollection 2026 Jul.
PubMed 42437197
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Bolsillo Saludable: Feasibility of a Healthy Food Subsidy on Healthy Eating in Low-Income Households in Chile
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06865157
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 5128637
- Conditions
- Feasibility Studies, Food Security
- Keywords
- Chile, Fruit and vegetables subsidy, Feasibility study
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of ChileUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Study start
- 15 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Oct 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Mar 2025 (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.
Feasibility Study
Objective:
The objective of this feasibility study is to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a healthy food subsidy program within the Chilean context. The program, called Healthy Wallet, is a smartphone app-based initiative aimed at incentivizing low-income families to purchase fruits and vegetables at open markets. The findings from this study are intended to inform and potentially accelerate the implementation of similar policies in other countries.
Methods:
This study assessed the feasibility of implementing the Healthy Wallet subsidy program, designed to promote healthy eating habits among low-income families. The program incentivized the purchase of fruits and vegetables at local ferias (open markets) and was delivered through a smartphone application. The research adopted a community-based approach, leveraging existing social support systems to identify eligible beneficiaries and streamline the distribution of benefits. Open markets served as redemption sites for the subsidies.
The study engaged 30 families and 8 vendors in an 8-week pilot program conducted from June to August 2024. Data collection included pre- and post-implementation surveys, as well as focus group discussions: three with participating families and one with vendors. These methods aimed to evaluate the app's effectiveness, user experience, and overall feasibility of the program. Insights from the study will guide recommendations for scaling the initiative to a national level and beyond.
Detailed description
Study Design:
This study employed an eight-week feasibility approach (Healthy Wallet) utilizing a mixed-methods assessment. The quantitative component consisted of a pre-post single-arm study, while the qualitative component involved focus group discussions with both vendors and participants.
Intervention:
The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. The program provides a monthly electronic transfer of 16,000 CLP (approximately 17 USD) for each eligible household member, including children under 18, students under 25, and individuals with disabilities. The primary food purchaser in each household receives the transfer, which is exclusively redeemable at registered stalls in the open market.
To ensure seamless transactions, registered vendors display a distinctive Healthy Wallet identification sign with a unique code. Beneficiaries use the mobile application to view available funds and complete purchases by entering the vendor's stall code. A separate vendor application tracks sales and maintains transaction records for efficient invoicing.
Sample:
The program engaged 30 families, who received monthly benefits for two consecutive months to use at 6 participating stalls within the Juan Pinto Durán open market.
Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility aligned with Chile's existing social protection framework, leveraging the Emergency Family Wallet government subsidy established to address rising food prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Households that participated in the Emergency Family Wallet program (2023-2024) were eligible.
The designated household representative, responsible for receiving and managing the benefit, had to meet the following criteria:
Be at least 18 years old (legal age). Be a parent or guardian of a child aged 0-5 years. Be responsible for household grocery purchases. Vendors operating at the Juan Pinto Durán open market were excluded from household eligibility.
Subsidy Delivery Platform:
A private mobile application, originally developed for university food benefits, was adapted for this pilot program. A private company managed the entire process, including loading benefits into participants' accounts, facilitating their use at the Juan Pinto Durán open market, and ensuring payment to vendors. This company provided its services pro bono, offering technical expertise and logistical support at no cost.
Ethical Considerations:
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol and informed consent forms were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- The Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over the course of two months, 30 families received monthly benefits redeemable at participating stalls within the Juan Pinto Durán open market in Santiago, Chile. Registered vendors prominently displayed a distinctive Healthy Wallet identification sign with a unique code, ensuring easy identification. Beneficiaries used the mobile app to check their available funds and complete purchases by entering the stall code. Meanwhile, vendors utilized their own app to track sales and maintain transaction records, streamlining the invoicing process.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Wallet | Experimental | Other: Healthy WalletEach eligible household receives a monthly electronic transfer of 16,000 CLP (approximately USD 17) per eligible member to purchase fruits and vegetables from authorized vendors at the Juan Pinto Durán open market. A dedicated mobile application manages the process by crediting the benefit to participants' accounts, simplifying its use at the market, and ensuring seamless payment to vendors. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Households that are beneficiaries of the Bolsillo Familiar Electrónico program in 2023-2024 and have children under 5 years of age.
- Availability to shop at the local open-air market (feria libre).
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Individuals who are market vendors (feria vendors).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy WalletThe Healthy Wallet program is a mobile-based initiative designed to promote healthy eating among low-income families by incentivizing the purchase of fruits and vegetables at open markets. Over a two-month period, 30 families received monthly benefits to use at a designated open market. | Other | Healthy Wallet |
Primary outcome
Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.
Time frame: Daily throughout the two months of follow-up
Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform.
Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform
Time frame: Weekly throughout the two months of follow-up
Percentage of households that used the monetary subsidy at least once per month, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among beneficiaries, evaluated through online surveys (Likert scale)
Perceived utility of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through online surveys
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Perceived utility of the subsidy program among vendors, evaluated through online surveys (Yes/No questionnaire)
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among beneficiaries, evaluated through focus groups
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
Time frame: At the end of the study, at two months of follow-up
Self-reported satisfaction of the subsidy platform among vendors, evaluated through focus groups
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 7 Mar 2025.
- Background: PubMed 38453385Huangfu P, Pearson F, Abu-Hijleh FM, Wahlich C, Willis K, Awad SF, Abu-Raddad LJ, Critchley JA. Impact of price reductions, subsidies, or financial incentives on healthy food purchases and consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Planet Health. 2024 Mar;8(3):e197-e212. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00004-4.
- Background: PubMed 35648401Andreyeva T, Marple K, Moore TE, Powell LM. Evaluation of Economic and Health Outcomes Associated With Food Taxes and Subsidies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2214371. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14371.
- Background: PubMed 34379125Berkowitz SA, Curran N, Hoeffler S, Henderson R, Price A, Ng SW. Association of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy Program With Food Purchases by Individuals With Low Income in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Aug 2;4(8):e2120377. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20377.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42437197Pemjean I, Montes de Oca D, Lara-Arevalo J, Ng SW, Taillie LS, Corvalan C. Adoption and Acceptability of a Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy in Low-Income Households in Urban Chile: The Bolsillo Saludable Pilot Feasibility Study. Curr Dev Nutr. 2026 Jun 13;10(7):109394. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2026.109394. eCollection 2026 Jul.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All IPD data related to study protocol, statistical analysis plan and informed consent form
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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.
Camila Corvalan, PhD principal investigator
Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Healthy Wallet in people with Feasibility Studies and Food Security, run by University of Chile at 1 site in Chile.
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 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 7 Mar 2025. 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 Chile. 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?
Percentage of the monetary subsidy spent daily by each household, based on the records from the subsidy delivery platform. (time frame: Daily throughout the two months of follow-up). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06865157, which also lists 4 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 7 Mar 2025.