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Malli MA, Ryan S, Maddison J, Kharicha K. Experiences and meaning of loneliness beyond age and group identity. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2023; 45:70-89. [PMID: 36073866 PMCID: PMC10087890 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Research into loneliness has focussed on subpopulations, and in particular those defined by age, identifying specific contextual factors contributing to their experiences. We suggest that the 'essence' of loneliness cannot be fully captured by examining a unitary group and argue for broader and diverse sampling to better understand how loneliness is experienced. Informed by a symbolic interactionist approach, this study aims to elucidate experiences and meaning of loneliness among a heterogeneous group of adults. In depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 37 individuals, aged 18-71 years who had experienced loneliness in the UK. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: Loneliness as lacking, loneliness as abandonment, lingering loneliness and the unspoken and trivialised experience of loneliness. Our analysis signals the complexity of loneliness did not necessarily conform to one-dimensional conceptualisations of the phenomenon. Loneliness is linked to interpersonal relationships, but also associated with participants' roles and identity within society. Thus, society exacerbates and creates loneliness. Implications for the support and provision of loneliness are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Aikaterini Malli
- Department of Social Care and Social WorkManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
- The Oxford Institute of Population AgeingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Sara Ryan
- Department of Social Care and Social WorkManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - Jane Maddison
- School for Business and SocietyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | - Kalpa Kharicha
- NIHR Health & Social Care Workforce Research UnitKing’s College LondonLondonUK
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Craddock JC, Neale EP, Peoples GE, Probst YC. Examining dietary behaviours, diet quality, motives and supplementation use in physically active individuals following vegetarian-based eating patterns. NUTR BULL 2022; 47:473-487. [PMID: 36352440 PMCID: PMC10098725 DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The adoption of vegetarian-based dietary patterns among athletes has been gaining popularity. However, limited research examines the dietary behaviours within this group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine self-reported dietary behaviours in a cohort of physically active individuals following vegetarian-based dietary patterns, recruited via social media. A 52-item online survey was created with questions related to demographics, physical activity, eating patterns and supplementation use. An external link to the Australian Automated Self-Administered 24-h (ASA24-AU) recall was included to examine nutrient intakes. Dietary quality was assessed using the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) and the Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) tools. A total of 781 (84.8%) respondents completed the survey in 2018. Principal motives for adhering to a vegetarian-based dietary pattern included animal rights (86.5%), environmental concerns (75.4%), health reasons (69.6%) and improving physical performance (24.1%). Vitamin B12 was the most commonly reported supplement (58.1%) followed by protein powder (36.3%) and vitamin D (35.9%). A total of 133 respondents completed the ASA24-AU dietary recall with generally adequate nutrient intakes and a high-quality diet as assessed by the AHEI-2010 and DPI. A significant minority of physically active individuals following vegetarian-based diets do so with the aspiration of improving their exercise performance. Dietary quality was considered high in this group for recreational physical activity, although intakes of vitamin B12 and LC n-3 PUFA were low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel C Craddock
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth P Neale
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gregory E Peoples
- Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yasmine C Probst
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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3
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Sanchez C, Grzenda A, Varias A, Widge AS, Carpenter LL, McDonald WM, Nemeroff CB, Kalin NH, Martin G, Tohen M, Filippou-Frye M, Ramsey D, Linos E, Mangurian C, Rodriguez CI. Social media recruitment for mental health research: A systematic review. Compr Psychiatry 2020; 103:152197. [PMID: 32992073 PMCID: PMC7704547 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media holds exciting promise for advancing mental health research recruitment, however, the extent and efficacy to which these platforms are currently in use are underexplored. OBJECTIVE A systematic review was conducted to characterize the current use and efficacy of social media in recruiting participants for mental health research. METHOD A literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychINFO. Only non-duplicative manuscripts written in the English language and published between 1/1/2004-3/31/2019 were selected for further screening. Data extracted included study type and design, participant inclusion criteria, social media platform, advertising strategy, final recruited sample size, recruitment location, year, monetary incentives, comparison to other recruitment methods if performed, and final cost per participant. RESULTS A total of 176 unique studies that used social media for mental health research recruitment were reviewed. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (62.5%) in design and recruited adults. Facebook was overwhelmingly the recruitment platform of choice (92.6%), with the use of paid advertisements being the predominant strategy (60.8%). Of the reviewed studies, substance abuse (43.8%) and mood disorders (15.3%) were the primary subjects of investigation. In 68.3% of studies, social media recruitment performed as well as or better than traditional recruitment methods in the number and cost of final enrolled participants. The majority of studies used Facebook for recruitment at a median cost per final recruited study participant of $19.47. In 55.6% of the studies, social media recruitment was the more cost-effective recruitment method when compared to traditional methods (e.g., referrals, mailing). CONCLUSION Social media appears to be an effective and economical recruitment tool for mental health research. The platform raises methodological and privacy concerns not covered in current research regulations that warrant additional consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Sanchez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Adrienne Grzenda
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrea Varias
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Linda L Carpenter
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - William M McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Glenn Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mauricio Tohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Maria Filippou-Frye
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Drew Ramsey
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eleni Linos
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christina Mangurian
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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Ford KL, Albritton T, Dunn TA, Crawford K, Neuwirth J, Bull S. Youth Study Recruitment Using Paid Advertising on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2019; 5:e14080. [PMID: 31599739 PMCID: PMC6811770 DOI: 10.2196/14080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of paid social media advertising for targeted study recruitment is an effective strategy in health research and evaluation, specifically to reach diverse youth participants. Although the literature adequately describes the utility of Facebook in recruitment, limited information exists for social media platforms that are more popular with youth, specifically Instagram and Snapchat. OBJECTIVE This paper outlines a paid advertising approach using Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook to evaluate a statewide youth marijuana prevention campaign. The objective of this study was to compare recruitment metrics across Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook for two surveys documenting youth knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to retail marijuana in Colorado post legalization. In addition, the study assessed the feasibility of using Instagram and Snapchat as effective additions to Facebook for youth study recruitment. METHODS A social media recruitment strategy was used to conduct two cross-sectional surveys of youth, aged 13 to 20 years, in Colorado. Geographically targeted ads across 3 social media platforms encouraged the completion of a Web-based self-administered survey. Ad Words and Snap Ads were used to deploy and manage advertising campaigns, including ad design, placement, and analysis. Ad costs and recruitment metrics (ie, impressions, link clicks, and conversion rates) were calculated across the three social media platforms. RESULTS Over two 1-month periods, 763,613 youth were reached (ie, impressions), 6089 of them clicked survey links (ie, clicks), and 828 eligible youth completed surveys about knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to retail marijuana. Instagram converted 36.13% (803/2222) of impressions to clicks (ie, conversion rate) in the first survey and 0.87% (864/98982) in the second survey. Snapchat generated the most impressions and link clicks, but it did so with the lowest conversion rate for both surveys, with a 1.40% (1600/114,200) conversion rate in the first survey and a 0.36% (1818/504700) conversion rate in the second survey. Facebook maintained a consistent conversion rate of roughly 2% across both surveys, despite reductions in budget for the second survey. The cost-per-click ranged between US $0.25 and $0.37 across the three platforms, with Snapchat as both the most cost-effective platform in the first survey and the most expensive platform in the second survey. CONCLUSIONS Recruitment and enrollment outcomes indicate the use of Instagram and Snapchat, in addition to Facebook, may be a modern, useful, and cost-effective approach to reach youth with surveys on sensitive health topics. As the use of Facebook declines among youth, the use of more popular social media platforms can augment study recruitment for health research and evaluation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Lynett Ford
- The mHealth Impact Lab, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States.,Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Tashuna Albritton
- School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tara A Dunn
- Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Kacy Crawford
- Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Jessica Neuwirth
- Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Sheana Bull
- The mHealth Impact Lab, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, United States.,Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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Schwab-Reese LM, Hovdestad W, Tonmyr L, Fluke J. The potential use of social media and other internet-related data and communications for child maltreatment surveillance and epidemiological research: Scoping review and recommendations. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 85:187-201. [PMID: 29366596 PMCID: PMC7112406 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Collecting child maltreatment data is a complicated undertaking for many reasons. As a result, there is an interest by child maltreatment researchers to develop methodologies that allow for the triangulation of data sources. To better understand how social media and internet-based technologies could contribute to these approaches, we conducted a scoping review to provide an overview of social media and internet-based methodologies for health research, to report results of evaluation and validation research on these methods, and to highlight studies with potential relevance to child maltreatment research and surveillance. Many approaches were identified in the broad health literature; however, there has been limited application of these approaches to child maltreatment. The most common use was recruiting participants or engaging existing participants using online methods. From the broad health literature, social media and internet-based approaches to surveillance and epidemiologic research appear promising. Many of the approaches are relatively low cost and easy to implement without extensive infrastructure, but there are also a range of limitations for each method. Several methods have a mixed record of validation and sources of error in estimation are not yet understood or predictable. In addition to the problems relevant to other health outcomes, child maltreatment researchers face additional challenges, including the complex ethical issues associated with both internet-based and child maltreatment research. If these issues are adequately addressed, social media and internet-based technologies may be a promising approach to reducing some of the limitations in existing child maltreatment data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Schwab-Reese
- The Kempe Center for The Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13123 E 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Wendy Hovdestad
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Lil Tonmyr
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - John Fluke
- The Kempe Center for The Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13123 E 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Downing MJ, Brown D, Steen J, Benoit E. Understanding the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Men's Risk Behavior: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2018; 7:e62. [PMID: 29483063 PMCID: PMC5847822 DOI: 10.2196/resprot.9071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) remains a critical public health issue among black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), as it is associated with multiple negative outcomes including substance misuse, poor mental health, revictimization, and high-risk sexual behavior. Most CSA research with MSM relies on quantitative assessment that often precludes consideration of cultural variations in how formative sexual experiences are understood and is based on inconsistent or overly restrictive definitions of abuse, and therefore may fail to detect certain abusive experiences (eg, those involving female perpetrators), which can have harmful health consequences if they remain unrecognized. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to overcome existing limitations in the literature by drawing on perspectives of black and Latino MSM and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), as well as relevant service providers to better understand the role of, and the need to include, sexual abuse histories (eg, CSA) in treatment and counseling settings, with the long-term goal of improving assessment and health outcomes. METHODS We will conduct mixed-methods interviews, framed by an intersectionality approach, with 80 black and Latino men (40 MSM and 40 MSMW) in New York City (NYC), exploring appraisals of their formative sexual experiences, including those described as consensual but meeting criteria for CSA. We will also interview 30 local service providers representing substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and HIV prevention and outreach. RESULTS The study was launched in May 2017. CONCLUSIONS This formative research will inform testable approaches to assessing and incorporating sexual abuse history into substance abuse treatment and other health and mental health services used by men with such histories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominique Brown
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey Steen
- School of Social Work, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA, United States
| | - Ellen Benoit
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, NY, United States
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Whitaker C, Stevelink S, Fear N. The Use of Facebook in Recruiting Participants for Health Research Purposes: A Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e290. [PMID: 28851679 PMCID: PMC5594255 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social media is a popular online tool that allows users to communicate and exchange information. It allows digital content such as pictures, videos and websites to be shared, discussed, republished and endorsed by its users, their friends and businesses. Adverts can be posted and promoted to specific target audiences by demographics such as region, age or gender. Recruiting for health research is complex with strict requirement criteria imposed on the participants. Traditional research recruitment relies on flyers, newspaper adverts, radio and television broadcasts, letters, emails, website listings, and word of mouth. These methods are potentially poor at recruiting hard to reach demographics, can be slow and expensive. Recruitment via social media, in particular Facebook, may be faster and cheaper. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the current use and success of Facebook to recruit participants for health research purposes. METHODS A literature review was completed in March 2017 in the English language using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and a hand search of article references. Papers from the past 12 years were included and number of participants, recruitment period, number of impressions, cost per click or participant, and conversion rate extracted. RESULTS A total of 35 studies were identified from the United States (n=22), Australia (n=9), Canada (n=2), Japan (n=1), and Germany (n=1) and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. All focused on the feasibility of recruitment via Facebook, with some (n=10) also testing interventions, such as smoking cessation and depression reduction. Most recruited young age groups (16-24 years), with the remaining targeting specific demographics, for example, military veterans. Information from the 35 studies was analyzed with median values being 264 recruited participants, a 3-month recruitment period, 3.3 million impressions, cost per click of US $0.51, conversion rate of 4% (range 0.06-29.50), eligibility of 61% (range 17-100), and cost per participant of US $14.41. The studies showed success in penetrating hard to reach populations, finding the results representative of their control or comparison demographic, except for an over representation of young white women. CONCLUSIONS There is growing evidence to suggest that Facebook is a useful recruitment tool and its use, therefore, should be considered when implementing future health research. When compared with traditional recruitment methods (print, radio, television, and email), benefits include reduced costs, shorter recruitment periods, better representation, and improved participant selection in young and hard to reach demographics. It however, remains limited by Internet access and the over representation of young white women. Future studies should recruit across all ages and explore recruitment via other forms of social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Whitaker
- Kings Centre for Military Health Research, Department of Psychological Medicine, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon Stevelink
- Kings Centre for Military Health Research, Department of Psychological Medicine, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Fear
- Kings Centre for Military Health Research, Department of Psychological Medicine, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
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Thornton L, Batterham PJ, Fassnacht DB, Kay-Lambkin F, Calear AL, Hunt S. Recruiting for health, medical or psychosocial research using Facebook: Systematic review. Internet Interv 2016; 4:72-81. [PMID: 30135792 PMCID: PMC6096238 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruiting participants is a challenge for many health, medical and psychosocial research projects. One tool more frequently being used to improve recruitment is the social networking website Facebook. A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that have used Facebook to recruit participants of all ages, to any psychosocial, health or medical research. 110 unique studies that used Facebook as a recruitment source were included in the review. The majority of studies used a cross-sectional design (80%) and addressed a physical health or disease issue (57%). Half (49%) of the included studies reported specific details of the Facebook recruitment process. Researchers paid between $1.36 and $110 per completing participants (Mean = $17.48, SD = $23.06). Among studies that examined the representativeness of their sample, the majority concluded (86%) their Facebook-recruited samples were similarly representative of samples recruited via traditional methods. These results indicate that Facebook is an effective and cost-efficient recruitment method. Researchers should consider their target group, advertisement wording, offering incentives and no-cost methods of recruitment when considering Facebook as a recruitment source. It is hoped this review will assist researchers to make decisions regarding the use of Facebook as a recruitment tool in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Thornton
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniel B. Fassnacht
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Frances Kay-Lambkin
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Corresponding author at: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Alison L. Calear
- National Institute for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sally Hunt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
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Loxton D, Powers J, Anderson AE, Townsend N, Harris ML, Tuckerman R, Pease S, Mishra G, Byles J. Online and Offline Recruitment of Young Women for a Longitudinal Health Survey: Findings From the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health 1989-95 Cohort. J Med Internet Res 2015; 17:e109. [PMID: 25940876 PMCID: PMC4468605 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2012, we set out to recruit a cohort of at least 10,000 women aged 18-23 from across Australia. With recent research demonstrating the inadequacy of traditional approaches to recruiting women in this age group, we elected to conduct open recruiting. Objective Our aim was to report on the overall success of open recruiting and to evaluate the relative success of a variety of recruitment methods in terms of numbers and demographics. Methods We used referrals, Facebook, formal advertising, and incentives in order to recruit the cohort. Results In all, 17,069 women were recruited for the longitudinal online survey, from 54,685 initiated surveys. Of these women, most (69.94%, n=11,799) who joined the longitudinal cohort were recruited via Facebook, 12.72% (n=2145) via the fashion promotion, 7.02% (n=1184) by referral, 4.9% (n=831) via other Web activities, and 5.4% (n=910) via traditional media. Conclusions Facebook was by far the most successful strategy, enrolling a cohort of women with a similar profile to the population of Australian women in terms of age, area of residence, and relationship status. Women recruited via fashion promotion were the least representative. All strategies underrepresented less educated women—a finding that is consistent with more traditional means of recruiting. In conclusion, flexibility in recruitment design, embracing new and traditional media, adopting a dynamic responsive approach, and monitoring the results of recruiting in terms of sample composition and number recruited led to the successful establishment of a new cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Loxton
- Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
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Schumacher KR, Stringer KA, Donohue JE, Yu S, Shaver A, Caruthers RL, Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Fifer C, Goldberg C, Russell MW. Social media methods for studying rare diseases. Pediatrics 2014; 133:e1345-53. [PMID: 24733869 PMCID: PMC4006435 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-2966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
For pediatric rare diseases, the number of patients available to support traditional research methods is often inadequate. However, patients who have similar diseases cluster "virtually" online via social media. This study aimed to (1) determine whether patients who have the rare diseases Fontan-associated protein losing enteropathy (PLE) and plastic bronchitis (PB) would participate in online research, and (2) explore response patterns to examine social media's role in participation compared with other referral modalities. A novel, internet-based survey querying details of potential pathogenesis, course, and treatment of PLE and PB was created. The study was available online via web and Facebook portals for 1 year. Apart from 2 study-initiated posts on patient-run Facebook pages at the study initiation, all recruitment was driven by study respondents only. Response patterns and referral sources were tracked. A total of 671 respondents with a Fontan palliation completed a valid survey, including 76 who had PLE and 46 who had PB. Responses over time demonstrated periodic, marked increases as new online populations of Fontan patients were reached. Of the responses, 574 (86%) were from the United States and 97 (14%) were international. The leading referral sources were Facebook, internet forums, and traditional websites. Overall, social media outlets referred 84% of all responses, making it the dominant modality for recruiting the largest reported contemporary cohort of Fontan patients and patients who have PLE and PB. The methodology and response patterns from this study can be used to design research applications for other rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sunkyung Yu
- Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
| | - Ashley Shaver
- Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
| | | | - Brian J Zikmund-Fisher
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Carlen Fifer
- Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
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Chen W, Lee KH. More than search? Informational and participatory eHealth behaviors. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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