Setting and motivation in the decision to participate: An approach to the engagement of diverse samples in mobile research

Abstract

Internet and mobile based research are powerful tools in the creation of large, cohort studies (eCohort). However, recent analysis indicates that an underrepresentation of minority and low income groups in these studies might exceed that found in traditional research [1–5]. In this report, we present findings from an experiment in research engagement using the Eureka Research Platform developed to enroll diverse populations in support of biomedical clinical research. This experiment involved the recruitment of African American and Latino participants in a smartphone based survey at a temporary, charitable, dental event sponsored, in part, by the research team, in order to explore the impact of setting and approach on recruitment outcomes. 211 participants enrolled including a significant representation of African Americans (51%) and Latinos (31%) and those with education levels at high school or less (37%). Interviews conducted after the study confirmed that our recruitment efforts within the context of a service event affected the decision to participate. While further research is necessary, this experiment holds promise for the engagement of underrepresented groups in research.

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“…Previously, we have shown that recruiting through community organizations can promote participation in digital clinical studies. 28 …”

Formation of Research Competence of Students by Means of Mobile Education

“…It should be noted that practically each student has his / her own mobile device (smartphone, tablet or laptop) with the Internet access. However, educators use mobile devices and applications within the educational process very rarely [16,20,24].…”

The COVID-19 Citizen Science Study: Protocol for a Longitudinal Digital Health Cohort Study

“…Recruitment methods will include additional outreach through letters, phone calls, and incentives for enrollment and participation [ 22 ]. Prior research on engagement of diverse communities has also demonstrated that individual outreach at community events may also facilitate participation in digital studies [ 12 ]. Beyond individual outreach, providing technology training may also be a strategy to enable participation among individuals with limited digital literacy or other barriers related to social determinants of health [ 8 ].…”

“…In 2014, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) researchers launched the Health eHeart Study [ 4 ], a ground-breaking cohort study conducted using web- and mobile-based recruitment, enrollment, consent, and participation [ 5 - 8 ]. Recognizing the potential of this approach to facilitate clinical research more broadly, the infrastructure of the Health eHeart Study was expanded to develop the NIH-supported Eureka Research Platform [ 9 ] for developing and hosting digital clinical studies [ 10 - 12 ]. The platform enables studies to be conducted entirely through web and mobile interactions, as well as studies with digital interaction as a complement to traditional clinical research methods.…”