Recruiting Young People for Digital Mental Health Research: Lessons From an AI-Driven Adaptive Trial

• DOI: 10.2196/60413
• Publication Date: 2024-11-12T12:41:42Z
• Authors: Wu Yi Zheng; Artur Shvetcov; Aimy Slade; Zoe Jenkins; Leonard Hoon; Alexis Whitton; Rena Logothetis; Smrithi Ravindra; Stefanus Kurniawan; Sunil Gupta; Kit Huckvale; Eileen Stech; Akash Agarwal; Joost Funke Kupper; Stuart Cameron; Jodie Rosenberg; Nicholas Manoglou; Manisha Senadeera; Svetha Venkatesh; Kon Mouzakis; Rajesh Vasa; Helen Christensen; Jill M Newby
• Keywords: Preprint; Digital Health

Background With increasing adoption of remote clinical trials in digital mental health, identifying cost-effective and time-efficient recruitment methodologies is crucial for the success such trials. Evidence on whether web-based methods are more effective than traditional as newspapers, media, or flyers inconsistent. Here we present insights from our experience recruiting tertiary education students a health artificial intelligence–driven adaptive trial—Vibe Up. Objective We evaluated effectiveness via Facebook Instagram compared to treatment trial different methods’ retention rates. coinciding with COVID-19 lockdowns across Australia, also cost-effectiveness social media during after lockdowns. Methods Recruitment was completed 2 pilot 6 minitrials June 2021 May 2022. To recruit participants, paid advertising used, alongside mailing lists university networks student organizations services, releases, announcements classes events, study posters campuses, professional networks. data, including engagement metrics collected by Meta (Facebook Instagram), costs, Qualtrics data survey completion rates, were analyzed using RStudio R (version 3.6.3; Foundation Statistical Computing). Results In total, 1314 eligible participants (aged 22.79, SD 4.71 years; 1079, 82.1% female) recruited minitrials. The vast majority (n=1203; 92%). Pairwise comparisons revealed that lead institution’s website (z=3.47; P=.003) (z=4.23; P<.001). No differences found between retaining at baseline, midpoint, completion. Wilcoxon tests significant lockdown (pilot 1 2) postlockdown (minitrials 1-6) costs incurred per link click (lockdown: median Aus $0.35 [US $0.22], IQR $0.27-$0.47 $0.17-$0.29]; postlockdown: $1.00 $0.62], $0.70-$1.47 $0.44-$0.92]; W=9087; P<.001) amount spent hour reach target sample size $4.75 $2.95], $1.94-6.34 $1.22-$3.97]; $13.29 $8.26], $4.70-25.31 $2.95-$15.87]; W=16044; Conclusions Social most successful strategy distressed into this trial, providing evidence use method type research. stood out terms participant retention. Perhaps reflection added distress experienced young people, period cost-effective. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001092886; https://tinyurl.com/39f2pdmd; ACTRN12621001223820; https://tinyurl.com/bdhkvucv