Journal article

Web-based recruiting for health research using a social networking site: An exploratory study

Y Fenner, SM Garland, EE Moore, Y Jayasinghe, A Fletcher, SN Tabrizi, B Gunasekaran, JD Wark

Journal of Medical Internet Research | JOURNAL MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH | Published : 2012

Abstract

Background: Recruitment of young people for health research by traditional methods has become more expensive and challenging over recent decades. The Internet presents an opportunity for innovative recruitment modalities. Objective: To assess the feasibility of recruiting young females using targeted advertising on the social networking site Facebook. Methods: We placed an advertisement on Facebook from May to September 2010, inviting 16- to 25-year-old females from Victoria, Australia, to participate in a health study. Those who clicked on the advertisement were redirected to the study website and were able to express interest by submitting their contact details online. They were contacted ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Advanced Medical Science (AMS) student Navera Ahmed for her considerable help in conducting the study and disseminating results. We are grateful to the members of our Young Women's Advisory Group for their feedback about the study website, logo, advertisements, and questionnaire. We also thank all the young women who took part in this study. This work was supported by a grant from the Dean Robert Winter Trust, which is managed by the ANZ Trustees, the National Health and Medical Research Council (Program Grant #568971), and the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program.