Understanding how nurses can effectively utilise social media for increasing public involvement, recruitment, and impact dissemination of Clinical Research Trials

JACKSON, JESSICA

Abstract

Background
The methodologies for clinical research trials are evolving to greater usage of social media platforms, providing opportunities to incorporate smart technologies in their delivery. Research Nurses should consider how they can utilise platforms for public engagement in trials.

Aim
To explore the experiences of social media platforms and clinical research trials in a healthy population group, to gain insight into how clinical researchers can utilise these platforms professionally and ethically.

Methods
Using a critical realist qualitative focus group design with template analysis, we recruited 16 healthy members of the public aged 18 to 75 years. The data expands upon their thoughts and behaviours regarding social media platforms with their understanding of clinical research.

Results
Three main themes along with their specific subthemes 1. Design: Patient and Public Involvement (Subtheme: Understanding of clinical research, Diversity of social media users) 2. Implementation: Recruitment to active studies, (Subtheme: Motivators for volunteering, Trustworthy) 3. Dissemination: Impact and Awareness of Results, (Subtheme: Information overload, Motivations for users to share information).

Conclusions
This study has highlighted the need to consider the way different population groups use social media platforms and the information they share when looking to engage them in clinical research trials.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Research in Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1744-9871
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-988X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Research Design; Clinical Trials; Social Media; Patient and Public Involvement; Recruitment; Dissemination
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/36568501