Using Social Media for Clinical Research: Recommendations and Examples From the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health

Experiences in Recruitment for Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black, and Other Non-White Cancer Survivors Through Community Outreach and Other Targeted Approaches

OBJECTIVES

Recruitment of racial/ethnic underserved populations in oncology research is essential to address health disparities. This article presents strategies and lessons learned from community outreach and other approaches for recruiting non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White survivors of cancer into a pilot study that investigated biopsychosocial determinants of health behaviors.

METHODS

We critically examined the participant recruitment approaches to explore challenges and successful strategies and develop recommendations for future studies. Direct recruitment strategies included engaging with research staff members' personal community contacts/liaisons and participating in community outreach events (eg, farmers' markets, block parties, library events, cancer awareness events). Indirect recruitment strategies included posting and distribution of study flyers in community centers (eg, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, churches, libraries), online platforms (eg, FORCE, Survivor Journey website), and invitation letters sent to individuals identified as eligible through a single state cancer registry.

RESULTS

Between April 2022 and May 2023, among the 64 individuals recruited, 36 were non-Hispanic Black, 25 were Hispanic, and three were American Indian/Alaska Native people. The use of a state cancer registry (64.1%), snowballing/word of mouth (7.8%), and advertisement through an established cancer support organization (ie, FORCE) website (7.8%) were the most effective strategies in this study.

CONCLUSION

Recruitment of non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White people into biobehavioral studies through community-engaged research is challenging and requires long-term commitment and engagement with partners from target communities and affiliated organizations.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Registries and community outreach events can build trust for successful enrollment. Using multiple strategies can provide the best opportunities to reach diverse populations and enroll them in cancer-related research studies.

Associations Between Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Physical and Psychological Functioning and Willingness to Share Social Media Data for Research Among Adolescents With a Chronic Rheumatic Disease: Cross-Sectional Survey

Background

Social media data may augment understanding of the disease and treatment experiences and quality of life of youth with chronic medical conditions. Little is known about the willingness to share social media data for health research among youth with chronic medical conditions and the differences in health status between sharing and nonsharing youth with chronic medical conditions.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the associations between patient-reported measures of disease symptoms and functioning and the willingness to share social media data.

Methods

Between February 2018 and August 2019, during routine clinic visits, survey data about social media use and the willingness to share social media data (dependent variable) were collected from adolescents in a national rheumatic disease registry. Survey data were analyzed with patient-reported measures of disease symptoms and functioning and a clinical measure of disease activity, which were collected through a parent study. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to compare patient-reported outcomes between youth with chronic medical conditions who opted to share social media data and those who did not opt to share such data.

Results

Among 112 youths, (age: mean 16.1, SD 1.6 y; female: n=72, 64.3%), 83 (74.1%) agreed to share social media data. Female participants were more likely to share (P=.04). In all, 49 (43.8%) and 28 (25%) participants viewed and posted about rheumatic disease, respectively. Compared to nonsharers, sharers reported lower mobility (T-score: mean 49.0, SD 9.4 vs mean 53.9, SD 8.9; P=.02) and more pain interference (T-score: mean 45.7, SD 8.8 vs mean 40.4, SD 8.0; P=.005), fatigue (T-score: mean 49.1, SD 11.0 vs mean 39.7, SD 9.7; P<.001), depression (T-score: mean 48.1, SD 8.9 vs mean 42.2, SD 8.4; P=.003), and anxiety (T-score: mean 45.2, SD 9.3 vs mean 38.5, SD 7.0; P<.001). In regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, study site, and Physician Global Assessment score, each 1-unit increase in symptoms was associated with greater odds of willingness to share social media data, for measures of pain interference (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.001-1.14), fatigue (AOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13), depression (AOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13), and anxiety (AOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18).

Conclusions

High percentages of youth with rheumatic diseases used and were willing to share their social media data for research. Sharers reported worse symptoms and functioning compared to those of nonsharers. Social media may offer a potent information source and engagement pathway for youth with rheumatic diseases, but differences between sharing and nonsharing youth merit consideration when designing studies and evaluating social media-derived findings.