Crosier Benjamin Sage, Brian Rachel Marie, Ben-Zeev Dror
Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States.
J Med Internet Res. 2016 Jun 14;18(6):e160. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5420.
Auditory hallucinations (eg, hearing voices) are relatively common and underreported false sensory experiences that may produce distress and impairment. A large proportion of those who experience auditory hallucinations go unidentified and untreated. Traditional engagement methods oftentimes fall short in reaching the diverse population of people who experience auditory hallucinations.
The objective of this proof-of-concept study was to examine the viability of leveraging Web-based social media as a method of engaging people who experience auditory hallucinations and to evaluate their attitudes toward using social media platforms as a resource for Web-based support and technology-based treatment.
We used Facebook advertisements to recruit individuals who experience auditory hallucinations to complete an 18-item Web-based survey focused on issues related to auditory hallucinations and technology use in American adults. We systematically tested multiple elements of the advertisement and survey layout including image selection, survey pagination, question ordering, and advertising targeting strategy. Each element was evaluated sequentially and the most cost-effective strategy was implemented in the subsequent steps, eventually deriving an optimized approach. Three open-ended question responses were analyzed using conventional inductive content analysis. Coded responses were quantified into binary codes, and frequencies were then calculated.
Recruitment netted N=264 total sample over a 6-week period. Ninety-seven participants fully completed all measures at a total cost of $8.14 per participant across testing phases. Systematic adjustments to advertisement design, survey layout, and targeting strategies improved data quality and cost efficiency. People were willing to provide information on what triggered their auditory hallucinations along with strategies they use to cope, as well as provide suggestions to others who experience auditory hallucinations. Women, people who use mobile phones, and those experiencing more distress, were reportedly more open to using Facebook as a support and/or therapeutic tool in the future.
Facebook advertisements can be used to recruit research participants who experience auditory hallucinations quickly and in a cost-effective manner. Most (58%) Web-based respondents are open to Facebook-based support and treatment and are willing to describe their subjective experiences with auditory hallucinations.
幻听（例如听到声音）是相对常见但报告不足的虚假感官体验，可能会导致痛苦和功能障碍。很大一部分经历幻听的人未被识别和治疗。传统的参与方法往往无法接触到经历幻听的多样化人群。
本概念验证研究的目的是检验利用基于网络的社交媒体作为吸引经历幻听的人的一种方法的可行性，并评估他们对使用社交媒体平台作为基于网络的支持和基于技术的治疗资源的态度。
我们使用Facebook广告招募经历幻听的个体，以完成一项针对美国成年人与幻听和技术使用相关问题的18项基于网络的调查。我们系统地测试了广告和调查布局的多个元素，包括图像选择、调查分页、问题排序和广告定位策略。对每个元素依次进行评估，并在后续步骤中实施最具成本效益的策略，最终得出优化方法。使用传统的归纳式内容分析法对三个开放式问题的回答进行分析。将编码后的回答量化为二进制代码，然后计算频率。
在为期6周的时间里，招募得到了N = 264的总样本。97名参与者完全完成了所有测量，在测试阶段每位参与者的总成本为8.14美元。对广告设计、调查布局和定位策略的系统调整提高了数据质量和成本效率。人们愿意提供引发幻听的因素以及他们使用的应对策略的信息，并为其他经历幻听的人提供建议。据报道，女性、使用手机的人以及那些经历更多痛苦的人未来更愿意将Facebook用作支持和/或治疗工具。
Facebook广告可用于快速且经济高效地招募经历幻听的研究参与者。大多数（58%）基于网络的受访者对基于Facebook的支持和治疗持开放态度，并愿意描述他们幻听的主观体验。
