RCT of letter campaign to increase COVID-19 testing

To estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, the R.I. Department of Health and Brown University partnered to recruit a random sample of residents for PCR and serological testing. Between May 7th and 13th, 2020, letters were mailed to 5,000 randomly selected households, asking them to be tested at one of any four Stop & Shop locations. The 5,000 households were randomly assigned to receive one of two letters. Letter A was the default version, with a design familiar to anyone who has received a standard government mailer. Letter B included all of the same content of Letter A, but it was redesigned using principles from behavioral science and user-centered design. For example, Letter B is simpler in layout and it includes maps, a suggested deadline, and an optional sign-up to receive an SMS reminder. The letter redesigned based on behavioral science principles (Letter B) meaningfully increased show-ups for COVID-19 testing: 10.7% of Letter B recipients showed for testing, compared to only 7.5% of those receiving Letter A.

为评估罗德岛州新冠病毒（COVID-19）的流行情况，罗德岛州卫生部门与布朗大学携手合作，招募居民进行聚合酶链反应（PCR）和血清学检测。在2020年5月7日至13日期间，向随机选取的5,000户家庭寄送信件，邀请他们前往任何一家Stop & Shop超市的指定地点进行检测。这5,000户家庭被随机分配，分别收到两种信件中的一种。信件A为默认版本，其设计风格与标准政府邮寄物类似。信件B包含与信件A相同的内容，但采用了来自行为科学和以用户为中心的设计原则进行重新设计。例如，信件B在布局上更为简洁，并包含地图、建议的截止日期以及可选的短信提醒注册功能。基于行为科学原则重新设计的信件B（信件B）在提高新冠病毒检测的到场率方面具有显著意义：信件B的接收者中有10.7%到场进行检测，而仅7.5%的信件A接收者到场。