Mitchell Shannon Gwin, Schwartz Robert P, Alvanzo Anika A H, Weisman Monique S, Kyle Tiffany L, Turrigiano Eva M, Gibson Martha L, Perez Livangelie, McClure Erin A, Clingerman Sara, Froias Autumn, Shandera Danielle R, Walker Robrina, Babcock Dean L, Bailey Genie L, Miele Gloria M, Kunkel Lynn E, Norton Michael, Stitzer Maxine L
a Friends Research Institute, Inc. , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
b Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
Subst Abus. 2015;36(4):420-6. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2014.992565. Epub 2015 Feb 11.
The growing use of newer communication and Internet technologies, even among low-income and transient populations, require research staff to update their outreach strategies to ensure high follow-up and participant retention rates. This paper presents the views of research assistants on the use of cell phones and the Internet to track participants in a multisite randomized trial of substance use disorder treatment.
Preinterview questionnaires exploring tracking and other study-related activities were collected from 21 research staff across the 10 participating US sites. Data were then used to construct a semistructured interview guide that, in turn, was used to interview 12 of the same staff members. The questionnaires and interview data were entered in Atlas.ti and analyzed for emergent themes related to the use of technology for participant-tracking purposes.
Study staff reported that most participants had cell phones, despite having unstable physical addresses and landlines. The incoming call feature of most cell phones was useful for participants and research staff alike, and texting proved to have additional benefits. However, reliance on participants' cell phones also proved problematic. Even homeless participants were found to have access to the Internet through public libraries and could respond to study staff e-mails. Some study sites opened generic social media accounts, through which study staff sent private messages to participants. However, the institutional review board (IRB) approval process for tracking participants using social media at some sites was prohibitively lengthy. Internet searches through Google, national paid databases, obituaries, and judiciary Web sites were also helpful tools.
Research staff perceive that cell phones, Internet searches, and social networking sites were effective tools to achieve high follow-up rates in drug abuse research. Studies should incorporate cell phone, texting, and social network Web site information on locator forms; obtain IRB approval for contacting participants using social networking Web sites; and include Web searches, texting, and the use of social media in staff training as standard operating procedures.
即使在低收入和流动人口中，新型通信和互联网技术的使用也日益增加，这就要求研究人员更新他们的推广策略，以确保高随访率和参与者保留率。本文介绍了研究助理对于在一项物质使用障碍治疗的多中心随机试验中使用手机和互联网追踪参与者的看法。
从美国10个参与研究的地点的21名研究人员那里收集了探索追踪及其他与研究相关活动的预访谈问卷。然后，这些数据被用于构建一个半结构化访谈指南，该指南又被用于对其中12名研究人员进行访谈。问卷和访谈数据被录入Atlas.ti软件，并分析与使用技术进行参与者追踪目的相关的新出现的主题。
研究人员报告称，尽管大多数参与者的实际住址和固定电话不稳定，但他们大多都有手机。大多数手机的来电功能对参与者和研究人员都很有用，事实证明发短信还有额外的好处。然而，对参与者手机的依赖也存在问题。甚至发现无家可归的参与者也能通过公共图书馆访问互联网，并能回复研究人员的电子邮件。一些研究地点开设了通用的社交媒体账户，研究人员通过这些账户向参与者发送私信。然而，在一些地点，使用社交媒体追踪参与者的机构审查委员会（IRB）批准过程冗长到令人望而却步。通过谷歌、全国付费数据库、讣告和司法网站进行的互联网搜索也是有用的工具。
研究人员认为，手机、互联网搜索和社交网站是在药物滥用研究中实现高随访率的有效工具。研究应在定位表格中纳入手机、短信和社交网络网站信息；获得IRB批准以使用社交网络网站联系参与者；并将网络搜索、短信和社交媒体的使用纳入工作人员培训，作为标准操作程序。
