Three UCLA researchers to receive 2022 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award from Clinical Research Forum

UCLA Health is pleased to announce that Drs. Daniel Croymans, Hengchen Dai and Silvia Saccardo will be honored with a 2022 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award by the Clinical Research Forum (CRF), in recognition of the publication "Behavioral Nudges Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations" which examines the effects of behavioral interventions on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. 

Published in the international, peer-reviewed journal Nature in August 2021, Dr. Croymans led a team of investigators from UCLA and collaborators from Carnegie Mellon University that reported data from two sequential large-scale randomized controlled trials to determine if using text-message-based reminders which made COVID-19 vaccination salient and reduced barriers to scheduling an appointment are effective in increasing vaccine uptake. The study found that using text-message-based reminders designed with a behaviorally informed intervention such as psychological ownership resulted in an increase of vaccine uptake when compared to an information intervention which provided information about vaccine effectiveness and correcting misinformation. The UCLA Health research team continues to explore how these interventions can transcend beyond COVID-19 vaccination and be used to address critical care gaps.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Clinical Research Forum which reflects the outcome of bringing together brilliant minds, skills and resources from UCLA Health to perform innovative clinical research while providing the best patient care,” stated Dr. Croymans, medical director of DOM Quality. “This study allowed us the opportunity to continue to learn and identify best practices to proactively engage patients through personalized messages and a medium that motivates them to take action for their health. We look forward to expanding use of these interventions to motivate other health related behaviors such as seeking preventative health screenings.”

• Maria A. Han, MD, UCLA Health Chief Quality Officer
• Lily Roh, Director of Office of Population Health and Accountable Care
• Naveen Raja, Medical Director of Population Health
• Sitaram Vangala, Principal Statistician & Associate Director of DOM Statistics Core
• Hardikkumar Modi, Data Architect
• Shital Pandya, BI Operations Manager
• Michael Sloyan, Senior Manager, Medical Informatics

CTSI is proud to have helped facilitate this publication for consideration by the Clinical Research Forum. This study also receives ongoing research support from CTSI and the Center for SMART Health.

This story was adapted from the 2022 DGSOM press release.