Recruitment of adolescents for a smoking study: use of traditional strategies and social media

摘要: Engaging and retaining adolescents in research studies is challenging. Social media offers utility for expanding the sphere of recruitment. This study examined compared traditional Facebook-based recruitment strategies on reach, enrollment, cost, retention. Substance users aged 13–17 years were recruited through several methods, including social media, a website, fliers, talks schools, bus ads, referrals. Study involvement included one-time visit semiannual follow-up surveys. 1265 individuals contacted personnel; 629 ineligible; 129 declined; 200 participants enrolled. Facebook drew greatest volume but had high rate ineligibles. Referrals most successful cost-effective ($7 per enrolled participant); school least. Recruitment source was unrelated to retention success. may expand greater financial costs more ineligible contacts, resulting fewer enrollees relative interpersonal methods. Referrals, though useful engagement, did not provide differential benefit terms long-term