title: Comparison of Different Recruitment Methods for Sexual and Reproductive Health Research: Social Media-Based Versus Conventional Methods.
abstract: Prior research about the sexual and reproductive health of young women has relied mostly on self-reported survey studies. Thus, participant recruitment using Web-based methods can improve sexual and reproductive health research about cervical cancer prevention. In our prior study, we reported that Facebook is a promising way to reach young women for sexual and reproductive health research. However, it remains unknown whether Web-based or other conventional recruitment methods (ie, face-to-face or flyer distribution) yield comparable survey responses from similar participants.
  
  
  
  We conducted a survey to determine whether there was a difference in the sexual and reproductive health survey responses of young Japanese women based on recruitment methods: social media-based and conventional methods.
  
  
  
  From July 2012 to March 2013 (9 months), we invited women of ages 16-35 years in Kanagawa, Japan, to complete a Web-based questionnaire. They were recruited through either a social media-based (social networking site, SNS, group) or by conventional methods (conventional group). All participants enrolled were required to fill out and submit their responses through a Web-based questionnaire about their sexual and reproductive health for cervical cancer prevention.
  
  
  
  Of the 243 participants, 52.3% (127/243) were recruited by SNS, whereas 47.7% (116/243) were recruited by conventional methods. We found no differences between recruitment methods in responses to behaviors and attitudes to sexual and reproductive health survey, although more participants from the conventional group (15%, 14/95) chose not to answer the age of first intercourse compared with those from the SNS group (5.2%, 6/116; P=.03).
  
  
  
  No differences were found between recruitment methods in the responses of young Japanese women to a Web-based sexual and reproductive health survey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9163-2518
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Motoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1943-594X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8902-0056
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taguri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7811-947X
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai-Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4538-5541
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Bone and Mineral Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John Dennis
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2431-7902
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wark
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Infection and Immunity, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne Marie
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6869-311X
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Garland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Japan; papillomavirus vaccines; reproductive health; sexual behavior; sexual health; uterine cervical neoplasms