Recruiting Latino young adults into a vaping cessation study via social media: Feasibility and cost analysis Journal Article


Authors: Orfin, R. H.; Uceda, V.; Gardner, C.; Estrada, B.; Tamayo, E.; Hernández-Torres, R.; Li, D.; Rahman, I.; McIntosh, S.; Ossip, D. J.; Cupertino, A. P.; Cartujano-Barrera, F.
Article Title: Recruiting Latino young adults into a vaping cessation study via social media: Feasibility and cost analysis
Abstract: INTRODUCTION This study aims to assess the feasibility and cost of recruiting young Latino adults (aged 18–25 years) to participate in a vaping cessation study via social media and to describe the baseline characteristics of participants enrolled via social media. METHODS Paid advertisements were launched using the Meta Ads platform, which serves ads to users on Facebook and Instagram. Key measures of audience targeting included ages 18–25 years, all genders, and the following interests: ‘electronic cigarettes’, ‘vape’, ‘Latin pop’, and ‘Latin music’. The advertisements invited young Latino adults to join a text messaging vaping cessation study. By clicking on the advertisements, interested individuals were directed to a website to fill in a contact form. The study team contacted individuals who filled in the form, assessed them for study eligibility, and, if eligible, enrolled them in the study. RESULTS A total of 164 individuals completed the contact form, and 26 were successfully enrolled in the study. The enrollment efficiency ratio was 15.9% (26/164). The cost per enrollment was US$94.14. The participants’ mean age was 22.7 years (SD=1.6). Half of the participants (50%) were male, 38.5% were female, and 11.5% were gender non-conforming/non-binary. Two-thirds of the participants (69.2%) were born in the US, 23.1% in Puerto Rico, and 7.7% in Mexico. Eight participants (30.7%) selected Spanish as their language of preference. In terms of the type of vaping device, 16 participants (61.5%) indicated using disposables, 6 (23.1%) cartridges/pods, and 4 (15.4%) tanks/refillable. Sixteen participants (61.5%) reported using marijuana in e-cigarettes. Six participants (23.1%) had high e-cigarette dependence. Twenty participants (76.9%) had attempted to quit e-cigarettes in the past year. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible to recruit young Latino adults for a vaping cessation study via social media. Social media offers a relatively low-cost approach to recruiting a diverse sample of Latino young adults who vape. © 2024 Orfin R. H. et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Keywords: recruitment; young adults; latinos; social media; vaping; vaping cessation
Journal Title: Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
Volume: 10
ISSN: 2459-3087
Publisher: European Publishing  
Date Published: 2024-04-01
Start Page: 16
Language: English
DOI: 10.18332/tpc/186146
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11002960
PUBMED: 38596182
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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