TY  - JOUR
AU  - Motoki, Yoko
AU  - Miyagi, Etsuko
AU  - Taguri, Masataka
AU  - Asai-Sato, Mikiko
AU  - Enomoto, Takayuki
AU  - Wark, John Dennis
AU  - Garland, Suzanne Marie
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/03/10
TI  - Comparison of Different Recruitment Methods for Sexual and Reproductive Health Research: Social Media–Based Versus Conventional Methods
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e73
VL  - 19
IS  - 3
KW  - papillomavirus vaccines
KW  - reproductive health
KW  - sexual health
KW  - sexual behavior
KW  - Japan
KW  - uterine cervical neoplasms
AB  - Background: Prior research about the sexual and reproductive health of young women has relied mostly on self-reported survey studies. Thus, participant recruitment using Web-based methods can improve sexual and reproductive health research about cervical cancer prevention. In our prior study, we reported that Facebook is a promising way to reach young women for sexual and reproductive health research. However, it remains unknown whether Web-based or other conventional recruitment methods (ie, face-to-face or flyer distribution) yield comparable survey responses from similar participants. Objective: We conducted a survey to determine whether there was a difference in the sexual and reproductive health survey responses of young Japanese women based on recruitment methods: social media–based and conventional methods. Methods: From July 2012 to March 2013 (9 months), we invited women of ages 16-35 years in Kanagawa, Japan, to complete a Web-based questionnaire. They were recruited through either a social media–based (social networking site, SNS, group) or by conventional methods (conventional group). All participants enrolled were required to fill out and submit their responses through a Web-based questionnaire about their sexual and reproductive health for cervical cancer prevention. Results: Of the 243 participants, 52.3% (127/243) were recruited by SNS, whereas 47.7% (116/243) were recruited by conventional methods. We found no differences between recruitment methods in responses to behaviors and attitudes to sexual and reproductive health survey, although more participants from the conventional group (15%, 14/95) chose not to answer the age of first intercourse compared with those from the SNS group (5.2%, 6/116; P=.03). Conclusions: No differences were found between recruitment methods in the responses of young Japanese women to a Web–based sexual and reproductive health survey. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - http://www.jmir.org/2017/3/e73/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7048
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28283466
DO  - 10.2196/jmir.7048
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/jmir.7048
ER  -