This paper analyzes a randomized controlled trial of a personalized digital counseling intervention addressing informational constraints and choice architecture, cross-randomized with
discounts for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). The counseling intervention encourages shared decision-making (SDM) using a tablet-based ...
This paper analyzes a randomized controlled trial of a personalized digital counseling intervention addressing informational constraints and choice architecture, cross-randomized with
discounts for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). The counseling intervention encourages shared decision-making (SDM) using a tablet-based app, which provides a tailored
ranking of modern methods to each client according to their elicited needs and preferences.
Take-up of LARCs in the status quo regime at full price was 11%, which increased to 28% with
discounts. SDM roughly tripled the share of clients adopting a LARC at full price to 35% and
discounts had no incremental impact in this group. Neither intervention affected the take-up of
short-acting methods, such as the pill or the injectable. Consistent with theoretical models of
consumer search, SDM clients discussed more methods in depth, which led to higher adoption
rates for second- or lower-ranked LARCs. Our findings suggest that low-cost individualized
recommendations can potentially be as effective in increasing unfamiliar technology adoption
as providing large subsidies.