Using Social Media for Research: Addressing Regulatory Challenges

One potential use of social media is to educate and motivate patients to undertake healthy behaviors. This may be a particularly relevant approach for adolescents, for whom social media may be the primary form of communication. To this end, we conducted a research study investigating the use of a Facebook intervention to improve asthma control among teens. Using Facebook for a health intervention program poses specific challenges, including securing Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the study. Concerns about privacy, security, and protection of study participants with the use of Facebook and other social media for research purposes must be addressed. Social media holds great potential for research and health intervention programs but requires unique navigation of the IRB approval process.