The Evaluation of Online Tools in the Recruitment of Dermatology Patients for a Research Study

The document presents a preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of online tools in recruiting dermatology patients for a research study, specifically targeting adolescents and adults with atopic dermatitis. The study compared the cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness of various advertising methods, including local print media, flyers, and online media sources such as a hospital website, Facebook, Craigslist, and Google Ad Words. The results showed that online sources yielded the highest number of study inquiries and enrollments (27 inquiries, 16 enrolled), with flyers being the most cost-effective (10 inquiries, 9 enrolled) and print media being the least effective and most expensive (5 inquiries, 4 enrolled). Online ads were generally user-friendly, with Facebook allowing for targeted advertising based on specific demographics. The study concluded that online media sources have great potential for research study recruitment and are cost-effective, especially as the population increasingly favors the internet over print media. This trend is particularly relevant for studies aiming to recruit younger demographics.