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Using social media to crowdsource collection of urine samples during a national pandemic
- Source :
- International Urology and Nephrology
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2022.
-
Abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown had a substantial impact on normal research operations. Researchers needed to adapt their methods to engage at-home participants. One method is crowdsourcing, in which researchers use social media to recruit participants, gather data, and collect samples. We utilized this method to develop a diagnostic test for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). Participants were recruited via posts on popular social-media platforms, and enrolled via a website. Participants received and returned a mail kit containing bladder symptom surveys and a urine sample cup containing room-temperature preservative. Using this method, we collected 1254 IC/BPS and control samples in 3 months from all 50 United States. Our data demonstrate that crowdsourcing is a viable alternative to traditional research, with the ability to reach a broad patient population rapidly. Crowdsourcing is a powerful tool for at-home participation in research, particularly during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Subjects :
- Male
Biomedical Research
Urology - Original Paper
SARS-CoV-2
Patient Selection
Urology
Cystitis, Interstitial
COVID-19
Middle Aged
Urinalysis
United States
Specimen Handling
Research Design
Nephrology
Communicable Disease Control
Crowdsourcing
Humans
Female
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
Patient Participation
Social Media
Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15732584 and 03011623
- Volume :
- 54
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Urology and Nephrology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1cc81101ff7a7de81aec1a67b2200e1c