Consider recruiting people with dementia through social media platforms for the development and evaluation of technological interventions
Guidance
People with dementia are active on social media platforms. For this reason, researchers recruiting participants for their studies on the development, testing or evaluation of psychosocial technological interventions should consider advertising the study details on different social media platforms.
Explanation and Examples:
Devices using information and communication technology (ICT) are increasingly being used by older people, including people with dementia. We conducted an online survey with 143 people with dementia to explore if and how they use social media. Results from the survey revealed that more than half of the participants actively use social media. More people with young-onset dementia were active on social media, though a large proportion of people with dementia who were 65 years and older were actively using social media too. In addition, a large proportion of the participants themselves were recruited through Twitter and Facebook. Our results suggest that people with dementia can be reached through social media, which is of relevance for researchers looking to recruit participants for the development, testing or evaluation of psychosocial technological interventions.
Themes
Information Communication Technologies (ICT) People with dementia Recruitment Social media Young Onset Dementia
Target groups
Researchers recruiting people with dementia for their studiesType of evidence
Cross-sectional online survey with 143 people with dementia
References
Kohl, G., Koh, W.Q., Scior, K., & Charlesworth, G. (2023). Social media use among younger and older people with dementia: An internet-mediated mixed-methods study (Submitted to Computers in Human Behavior.)
As training manager of INDUCT, I am responsible for the overall coordination and organization of the individual and network-wide training of our 15 ESRs. My main task is the organization of five INDUCT Summer and Winter Schools. Together with the local and management team, we identify needs and interests among the ESRs, compose a varied program for the week including training sessions, project meetings and social and networking events, invite academic and non-academic expert speakers, organize practical matters, and afterwards we evaluate the event, write a report, and try to incorporate all suggestions in our future training events.