Raggatt Michelle, Wright Cassandra J C, Sacks-Davis Rachel, Dietze Paul M, Hellard Margaret E, Hocking Jane S, Lim Megan S C
Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
JMIR Res Protoc. 2023 Aug 11;12:e44813. doi: 10.2196/44813.
Peers are an important determinant of health and well-being during late adolescence; however, there is limited quantitative research examining peer influence. Previous peer network research with adolescents faced methodological limitations and difficulties recruiting young people.
This study aims to determine whether a web-based peer network survey is effective at recruiting adolescent peer networks by comparing 2 strategies for reimbursement.
This study will use a 2-group randomized trial design to test the effectiveness of reimbursements for peer referral in a web-based cross-sectional peer network survey. Young people aged 16-18 years recruited through Instagram, Snapchat, and a survey panel will be randomized to receive either scaled group reimbursement (the experimental group) or fixed individual reimbursement (the control group). All participants will receive a reimbursement of Aus $5 (US $3.70) for their own survey completion. In the experimental group (scaled group reimbursement), all participants within a peer network will receive an additional Aus $5 (US $3.70) voucher for each referred participant who completes the study, up to a maximum total value of Aus $30 (US $22.20) per participant. In the control group (fixed individual reimbursement), participants will only be reimbursed for their own survey completion. Participants' peer networks are assessed during the survey by asking about their close friends. A unique survey link will be generated to share with the participant's nominated friends for the recruitment of secondary participants. Outcomes are the proportion of a participant's peer network and the number of referred peers who complete the survey. The required sample size is 306 primary participants. Using a multilevel logistic regression model, we will assess the effect of the reimbursement intervention on the proportion of primary participants' close friends who complete the survey. The secondary aim is to determine participant characteristics that are associated with successfully recruiting close friends. Young people aged 16-18 years were involved in the development of the study design through focus groups and interviews (n=26).
Participant recruitment commenced in 2022.
A longitudinal web-based social network study could provide important data on how social networks and their influence change over time. This trial aims to determine whether scaled group reimbursement can increase the number of peers referred. The outcomes of this trial will improve the recruitment of young people to web-based network studies of sensitive health issues.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/44813.
同龄人是青春期后期健康和幸福的重要决定因素；然而，关于同龄人影响的定量研究有限。以往针对青少年的同龄人网络研究面临方法上的局限性以及招募年轻人的困难。
本研究旨在通过比较两种报销策略，确定基于网络的同龄人网络调查在招募青少年同龄人网络方面是否有效。
本研究将采用两组随机试验设计，以测试在基于网络的横断面同龄人网络调查中，同龄人推荐报销的有效性。通过照片墙（Instagram）、色拉布（Snapchat）和一个调查小组招募的16至18岁年轻人将被随机分组，分别接受按比例的小组报销（实验组）或固定的个人报销（对照组）。所有参与者完成自身调查问卷后将获得5澳元（3.70美元）的报销。在实验组（按比例的小组报销）中，同龄人网络中的所有参与者，每有一名被推荐的参与者完成研究，他们将额外获得一张5澳元（3.70美元）的代金券，每位参与者的代金券总价值最高为30澳元（22.20美元）。在对照组（固定的个人报销）中，参与者仅会因自身完成调查问卷而获得报销。在调查过程中，通过询问参与者的亲密朋友来评估其同龄人网络。将生成一个独特的调查链接，供参与者与他们提名的朋友分享，以招募二级参与者。结果指标是参与者同龄人网络的比例以及完成调查的被推荐同龄人的数量。所需样本量为306名主要参与者。我们将使用多水平逻辑回归模型，评估报销干预对完成调查的主要参与者亲密朋友比例的影响。次要目的是确定与成功招募亲密朋友相关的参与者特征。16至18岁的年轻人通过焦点小组和访谈参与了研究设计的制定（n = 26）。
参与者招募于2022年开始。
一项基于网络的纵向社交网络研究可以提供关于社交网络及其影响如何随时间变化的重要数据。本试验旨在确定按比例的小组报销是否能增加被推荐同龄人的数量。该试验的结果将改善针对敏感健康问题的基于网络的网络研究中年轻人的招募情况。
国际注册报告识别码（IRRID）：DERR1-10.2196/44813。
