Using behavioral nudges to improve family screening for inherited high cholesterol
Leveraging behavioral economics to implement cascade screening in individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11392680
This project uses two patient-facing approaches based on behavioral economics to help people with familial hypercholesterolemia get their relatives screened for the condition.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11392680 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), the team and the Family Heart Foundation will work with you to try two ways of helping you tell and screen your close relatives. They plan to enroll about 300 people diagnosed with FH through Penn Medicine and randomly assign participants to one of the two approaches. The approaches use behavioral economics techniques and practical outreach tools to make it easier and more likely that relatives complete screening and follow-up. The study will track how many relatives are contacted, tested, and newly diagnosed to see which approach reaches more families.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia who are willing to notify first-degree relatives and receive care through Penn Medicine are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a confirmed FH diagnosis, those who cannot or will not contact family members, or individuals outside the recruitment area may not benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more family members could be diagnosed earlier so treatment can begin sooner to lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
How similar studies have performed: Cascade screening programs have worked well in countries with system-led outreach, but applying behavioral economics to improve proband-mediated cascade screening in the U.S. is relatively new and being piloted here.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BEIDAS, RINAD SARY — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BEIDAS, RINAD SARY
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease