scholarly journals Using Facebook Advertising to Recruit Representative Samples: Feasibility Assessment of a Cross-Sectional Survey

10.2196/14021 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. e14021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance Garrett Shaver ◽  
Ahmed Khawer ◽  
Yanqing Yi ◽  
Kris Aubrey-Bassler ◽  
Holly Etchegary ◽  
...  

Background Facebook has shown promise as an economical means of recruiting participants for health research. However, few studies have evaluated this recruitment method in Canada, fewer still targeting older adults, and, to our knowledge, none specifically in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Objective This study aimed to assess Facebook advertising as an economical means of recruiting a representative sample of adults aged 35 to 74 years in NL for a cross-sectional health survey. Methods Facebook advertising was used to recruit for a Web-based survey on cancer awareness and prevention during April and May 2018; during recruitment, additional advertisements were targeted to increase representation of demographics that we identified as being underrepresented in our sample. Sociodemographic and health characteristics of the study sample were compared with distributions of the underlying population to determine representativeness. Cramer V indicates the magnitude of the difference between the sample and population distributions, interpreted as small (Cramer V=0.10), medium (0.30), and large (0.50). Sample characteristics were considered representative if there was no statistically significant difference in distributions (chi-square P>.01) or if the difference was small (V≤0.10), and practically representative if 0.10<V≤0.20. The cost per recruit of Facebook advertising was compared with a quote for a random digit dialing (RDD)–recruited postal survey to determine if this method was economical. Results Facebook advertising is feasible and economical to conduct survey research, reaching 34,012 people, of which 2067 clicked on the ad, for a final sample size of 1048 people at Can $2.18 per recruit versus the quoted Can $23,316.05 for 400 recruits (Can $35.52 per recruit) via RDD. The sample was representative of rural and urban geography (P=.02; V=0.073), practically representative of age (P=.003; V=0.145) and income (P<.001; V=0.188), and over-representative of women (P<.001; V=0.507) and higher levels of education (P<.001; V=0.488). The sample was representative of the proportion of people with a regular health care provider (P=.94; V=0.025), diabetes prevalence (P=.002; V=0.096), and having had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (P=.27; V=0.034), and it was practically representative of smoking status (P<.001; V=0.14), and body mass index (P<.001; V=0.135). The sample was not representative of arthritis prevalence (P<.001; V=0.573), perceived health (P<.001; V=0.384), or time since last seasonal flu shot (P<.001; V=0.449). Conclusions Facebook advertising offers an easy, rapid, and economical means to recruit a partially representative (representative or practically representative of 8 of the 13 characteristics studied) sample of middle-aged and older adults for health survey research. As Facebook uses a nonrandom targeting algorithm, caution is warranted in its applications for certain types of research.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance Garrett Shaver ◽  
Ahmed Khawer ◽  
Yanqing Yi ◽  
Kris Aubrey-Bassler ◽  
Holly Etchegary ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Facebook has shown promise as an economical means of recruiting participants for health research. However, few studies have evaluated this recruitment method in Canada, fewer still targeting older adults, and, to our knowledge, none specifically in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess Facebook advertising as an economical means of recruiting a representative sample of adults aged 35 to 74 years in NL for a cross-sectional health survey. METHODS Facebook advertising was used to recruit for a Web-based survey on cancer awareness and prevention during April and May 2018; during recruitment, additional advertisements were targeted to increase representation of demographics that we identified as being underrepresented in our sample. Sociodemographic and health characteristics of the study sample were compared with distributions of the underlying population to determine representativeness. Cramer V indicates the magnitude of the difference between the sample and population distributions, interpreted as small (Cramer V=0.10), medium (0.30), and large (0.50). Sample characteristics were considered representative if there was no statistically significant difference in distributions (chi-square P>.01) or if the difference was small (V≤0.10), and practically representative if 0.10<V≤0.20. The cost per recruit of Facebook advertising was compared with a quote for a random digit dialing (RDD)–recruited postal survey to determine if this method was economical. RESULTS Facebook advertising is feasible and economical to conduct survey research, reaching 34,012 people, of which 2067 clicked on the ad, for a final sample size of 1048 people at Can $2.18 per recruit versus the quoted Can $23,316.05 for 400 recruits (Can $35.52 per recruit) via RDD. The sample was representative of rural and urban geography (P=.02; V=0.073), practically representative of age (P=.003; V=0.145) and income (P<.001; V=0.188), and over-representative of women (P<.001; V=0.507) and higher levels of education (P<.001; V=0.488). The sample was representative of the proportion of people with a regular health care provider (P=.94; V=0.025), diabetes prevalence (P=.002; V=0.096), and having had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (P=.27; V=0.034), and it was practically representative of smoking status (P<.001; V=0.14), and body mass index (P<.001; V=0.135). The sample was not representative of arthritis prevalence (P<.001; V=0.573), perceived health (P<.001; V=0.384), or time since last seasonal flu shot (P<.001; V=0.449). CONCLUSIONS Facebook advertising offers an easy, rapid, and economical means to recruit a partially representative (representative or practically representative of 8 of the 13 characteristics studied) sample of middle-aged and older adults for health survey research. As Facebook uses a nonrandom targeting algorithm, caution is warranted in its applications for certain types of research.


Hand ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. L. ten Berg ◽  
Tessa Drijkoningen ◽  
Thierry G. Guitton ◽  
David Ring

Background: Radiological grading of wrist osteoarthritis associated with scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) can be difficult. A comparison radiograph of the contralateral healthy wrist and an educational training in the various SNAC stages may improve reliability. Our purposes were to evaluate the difference in the reliability: (1) between observers who rate SNAC wrists with and without a comparison radiograph; and (2) between observers who receive training prior to ratings and those who do not. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study, 82 fully trained orthopedic or hand surgeons rated anteroposterior radiographs of 19 patient wrists following a scaphoid nonunion based on SNAC stages 0 to 4. Observers were randomized online in 4 groups: one group rated unilateral views without training, a second group unilateral views with training, a third group bilateral views without training, and a fourth group bilateral views with training. Training included a 1-page clarification of the SNAC stages. Interobserver agreement was calculated using kappa statistics. Results: There was no significant difference between agreement between observers who rated unilateral radiographs (κ = 0.55) and who rated bilateral radiographs (κ = 0.58) ( P = .14), nor between agreement between observers who received training (κ = 0.59) and who did not (κ = 0.54) ( P = .058). Conclusions: The use of an additional comparison view and/or training does not seem to be clinically relevant in SNAC staging. There is room for improvement in the way we assess patients with SNAC wrists.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e023730 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Foster ◽  
Swatee Patel

ObjectivesTo investigate the concurrent use of ‘at-risk’ (AR) drinking (>10 units of alcohol per week) and prescription medications, while controlling for sociodemographic, and health-related factors, among older adults (aged 65–89 years).DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingData from Health Survey of England, 2013.InterventionsNone.ParticipantsGeneral population survey of 2169 adults aged 65–89 years.Primary outcome measuresAR drinking (>10 units per week). Secondary outcome was AR drinking defined as >14 units of alcohol per week limit (the cut-off used by the Department of Health for AT drinking).ResultsTwenty-seven per cent (n=568) of the sample were AR drinkers. Factors associated with alcohol consumption were gender, age, social class, marital status, rurality of dwelling, deprivation index, self-reported general health, cigarette smoking, body mass index, exercise level, health and well-being scores’ and number of prescription drugs. Logistic regression analysis showed that males were more likely to be AR drinkers (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.59 to 4.57, p<0.0001) than females. Each year increase in age, lowered the probability of AR drinking by a factor of 0.95 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.98, p<0.0001). Using prescription drugs reduced AR drinking by a factor of 0.92 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.93, p=0.033), after controlling for age, sex and rurality of dwelling. No other predictors were significant. Similar results were obtained for AR drinking of >14units per week.ConclusionAR drinking is more likely in older men than women. The odds of AR drinking lessens, as individuals age, and using prescription drugs also reduces AR drinking.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Xing Gong ◽  
Cai-Lan Hou ◽  
Shi-Bin Wang ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Zhuo-Hui Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To examine the prevalence of sleep disturbances, the socio-demographic and clinical correlates in Chinese older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods A cross-sectional survey of 195 patients with T2DM was conducted using standardized instruments. Results The prevalence of any type of sleep disturbances was 38.5%, the incidence of DIS, DMS, and EMA were 23.6%, 25.6% and 26.2%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in socio-demographic data between participants with and without sleep disturbances except age. Sleep disturbances were associated with more severe depressive symptoms and lower quality of life (QOL). Only 32% of patients suffering sleep disturbance received treatment. Conclusions Sleep disturbance is common in Chinese older patients with T2DM, but the rate of treatment appears low. More aggressive measures should be implemented to improve the assessment and treatment of sleep disturbances in patients with T2DM.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 816-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinaya Manchaiah ◽  
David Tomé ◽  
Ashley L. Dockens ◽  
Monica Harn ◽  
Purushothaman Ganesan

Background: In health care, the model of patient-centered care is growing; and improved outcomes have been linked to patient-centeredness. Practicing audiologists have been found to strongly prefer a patient-centered approach as years in practice increase. It is unknown whether patient-centeredness begins during education and training. Purpose: The current study was aimed at understanding the preference to patient-centeredness in undergraduate audiology students in Portugal. Research Design: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Study Sample: One hundred and thirty-seven undergraduate audiology students completed patient–practitioner orientation scale (PPOS) and provided some demographic details. Data Collection and Analysis: The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and one-sample t tests. Results: A significant difference was found for sharing subscale (p ≤ 0.001), caring subscale (p = 0.033), and the PPOS full scale (p ≤ 0.001) among different undergraduate groups. Further, post hoc tests showed that the difference between year 1 and with years 2, 3, and 4 were significant for sharing subscale and PPOS full scale, but not for caring subscale. No significant differences were observed among the years 2, 3, and 4 for sharing subscale, caring subscale, and for PPOS full scale. When compared audiologists’ preferences from a previous study on audiologists with students’ preferences in the current study, significant difference for both subscales and full scale was found between year 1 students and audiologists (p ≤ 0.001), with higher preference to patient-centeredness was reported by qualified audiologists. Also, significant difference was found between audiologists and overall undergraduate group for caring subscale (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The current study suggests that audiology education influences preference to patient-centeredness. Within a year of undergraduate coursework, students tend to develop high preference to patient-centeredness, which stays stable during four years of undergraduate studies. These results provide useful insights to audiology education and training, particularly in the context of audiological rehabilitation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 196s-196s
Author(s):  
S. Ghose ◽  
S.S. Datta

Background: Lifestyle associated cancers are 1 of the top 5 leading causes of death in the world and India sees a million new cases yearly. Early detection is an effective way to reduce incidences and mortality for preventable cancers. There is significant delay in detection for a large proportion of cancer patients in India. Lack of awareness about cancer has been shown to be a major contributor to treatment delay in many countries. The current study looked at the cancer awareness in an urban Indian population to address the gap of information about cancer prevention. Aim: To quantify knowledge about cancer in an urban population and find sociodemographic associations of lack of knowledge. We also wanted to compare knowledge of people from general population with those having some knowledge due to a family member being under treatment. Methods: Data were collected from 2 stratums: family members of cancer patients, Internet using community from general population, non-Internet using community dwellers. Subject selection was randomized. A prevalidated questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using STATA 13. Results: Respondents (n = 846) were family of cancer patients (n = 146, 17.3%), community dwellers (n = 175, 20.7%) and community Internet users (n = 525, 62.1%). No association of knowledge with age, gender, and income was found ( P values 0.84, 0.25, 0.93 respectively). Statistically significant association of cancer knowledge with education was found ( P < 0.001). There is significant difference in knowledge between Internet using and non-Internet using community ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Education impacts cancer knowledge of the population. The population having access to Internet has a higher knowledge than nonusers; but exposure to cancer treatment does not result in higher knowledge on cancer. These results will inform prevention and health education policies and aid in designing awareness and screening programs for preventing cancer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabika S Allehdan ◽  
Reema F Tayyem ◽  
Hiba A Bawadi ◽  
Narmeen J Al-Awwad ◽  
Mariam Al-Mannai ◽  
...  

Background: Fast food restaurants have become widespread in both developed and developing countries due to nutritional and economic transitions. The frequency of fast food intake is relatively high among adolescents; however, fast food consumption is positively associated with total energy intake and obesity in adolescents. Objective: This study aimed to examine the perception of Jordanian adolescents towards fast foods relative to gender and obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 400 boys and 395 girls, aged 15–18 years. The adolescents completed a validated questionnaire to measure the perception of adolescents towards fast foods during the year 2013–2014. Weight and height were measured. Numbers who were non-overweight, overweight, and obese were calculated for each age and sex using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) standard. Results: The majority of participants perceived foods which are eaten as sandwiches as fast foods. A significant difference between boy and girl adolescents was reported regarding perception of French fries ( p < 0.012), fried chicken ( p < 0.001), fattayer ( p < 0.001), foul (boiled broad beans) sandwich ( p < 0.001), falafel sandwich ( p < 0.044) and fried eggs sandwich ( p < 0.001) as fast foods. Girls were significantly more enthusiastic than boys to consider cuscusi plate ( p < 0.001), rice dishes ( p < 0.002), Chinese foods ( p < 0.001), Indian foods ( p < 0.010), Mexican foods ( p < 0.011), and Italian foods ( p < 0.004) as non-fast foods. The difference between obese and non-obese regarding the perception of fast foods was only significant among boy participants. Western or non-Arab foods, food prepared fast and eaten fast in self-service outlets, and food rich in calories were significantly perceived as fast food by Jordanian adolescents ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The perception of foods as fast foods or non-fast foods was significantly different between both genders as well as in obese and non-obese male Jordanian adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Jeong Hwang ◽  
In Ok Sim

Abstract Background In Korea, along with the rapid aging of the population, older adults’ living arrangements have changed in various ways. In particularly, the happiness of older adults living alone warrants attention because they are more vulnerable to unhappiness than those living with families are. This study reports on the level of happiness among older adults in Korean and examines the potential mediating roles of depressive symptoms, present health status, socio-physical environment, social support networks, and social activities, and happiness in three different living arrangements, older adults living alone, with their spouse, or with their family. Method Data for this study were extracted from the secondary data from the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey, a non-experimental, cross-sectional survey conducted among Korean individuals that were aged 65 and above (n = 14,687). The chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and Logistic regression were used to explore the related factors of happiness among the three groups. Results Findings revealed a significant difference in the happiness index among older adults living alone (6.22 ± 2.11), older adults living with their spouse (6.76 ± 1.99), and older adults living with their family (6.46 ± 1.94) (F = 88.69, p < .001). As the result of logistic regression, older adults living alone (odds ratio (OR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.57–0.99) and those living with their family (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65–0.99) demonstrated greater happiness as the frequency of contact with their family increased. Older adults living with their spouse indicated an increase in happiness when their contact with friends was higher (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.56–0.84). Conclusion It was recognized that factors influencing happiness differed according to older adults’ living arrangements, thus suggesting that older adults’ happiness could be facilitated through interventions that consider their circumstances, including living arrangements.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
Nadia Tariq ◽  
Tamkeen Jaffry ◽  
Rahma Fiaz ◽  
Abdul Majid Rajput ◽  
Sadaf Khalid

Background: Indoor air pollutants are increasingly being associated with respiratory illnesses leading to high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are not sufficient epidemiological studies from Pakistan which assess level of awareness of indoor air pollution resulting in respiratory diseases in population. Methods: This cross sectional survey was carried out on general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Sample size was 223 study subjects selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Knowledge of the study subjects was determined with regard to indoor air pollution, its effects on health and different sources of indoor air pollution with the help of a questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational status and socio economic status on the level of awareness was also analyzed. Results: Out of total 223 participants, 115 were males and108 females. Participants aware of indoor air pollution were 91.5% and adequate awareness about its sources was 80.7%. Those who knew indoor air pollution is detrimental to health were 95.1%. Awareness about building construction dust as source of indoor air pollution was maximum (84.8%). There was significant difference in awareness among participants with different monthly incomes and educational status and also between males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad has fairly good awareness about sources of indoor air pollution. Use of harmful material causing indoor air pollution should be limited or substituted with better ones where possible.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Wahdaniah Wahdaniah ◽  
Sri Tumpuk

Abstract: Routine blood examination is the earliest blood test or screening test to determine the diagnosis of an abnormality. Blood easily froze if it is outside the body and can be prevented by the addition of anticoagulants, one of which Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA). Currently available vacuum tubes containing EDTA anticoagulants in the form of K2EDTA and K3EDTA. K3EDTA is usually a salt that has better stability than other EDTA salts because it shows a pH approaching a blood pH of about 6.4. The purpose of this research is to know the difference of erythrocyte index results include MCH, MCV and MCHC using K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA. This research is a cross sectional design. This study used venous blood samples mixed with K2EDTA anticoagulant and venous blood mixed with K3EDTA anticoagulants, each of 30 samples. Data were collected and analyzed using paired different test. Based on data analysis that has been done on MCH examination, p value <0,05 then there is a significant difference between samples with K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA to erythrocyte index value. Then on the examination of MCV and MCHC obtained p value <0.05 then there is no significant difference between samples with K3EDTA anticoagulant with K2EDTA to erythrocyte index value.Abstrak: Pemeriksaan darah rutin merupakan pemeriksaan darah yang paling awal atau screening test untuk mengetahui diagnosis suatu kelainan. Darah mudah membeku jika berada diluar tubuh dan bisa dicegah dengan penambahan antikoagulan, salah satunya Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA). Dewasa ini telah tersedia tabung vakum yang sudah berisi antikoagulan EDTA dalam bentuk  K2EDTA dan  K3EDTA. K3EDTA  biasanya berupa garam yang mempunyai stabilitas yang lebih baik dari garam EDTA yang lain karena menunjukkan pH yang mendekati pH darah yaitu sekitar 6,4. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui perbedaan hasil indeks eritrosit meliputi MCH, MCV dan MCHC menggunakan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian dengan desain cross sectional. Penelitian ini menggunakan sampel darah vena yang dicampur dengan antikoagulan K2EDTA dan darah vena yang dicampur dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA, masing-masing sebanyak 30 sampel. Data dikumpulkan dan dianalisis menggunakan uji beda berpasangan. Berdasarkan analisis data yang telah dilakukan pada pemeriksaan MCH didapatkan nilai p < 0,05 maka ada perbedaan yang signifikan antara sampel dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA terhadap nilai indeks eritrosit. Kemudian pada pemeriksaan MCV dan MCHC didapatkan nilai p < 0,05 maka tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan antara sampel dengan antikoagulan K3EDTA dengan K2EDTA terhadap nilai indeks eritrosit.


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