Connect with us on Social Media
For Patients
Connect with our research studies recruiting through social media, by visiting us at “Clinical Research at Penn”; Don't forget to Like, Follow this page on Facebook.
For Clinical Research Teams
This section is for guidance, office hours to meet and discuss needs, and steps on how to request Facebook posts and ads for your research study.
For social media consultations for research teams, contact Maha Dutt or Tom Hohing at OCR (mdutt@upenn.edu, thohing@upenn.edu) Choose between Mondays (10:30-12:30), or Fridays (12-1:30pm)
This Facebook page “Clinical Research at Penn” will allow research teams to advertise their clinical trials and research studies. Besides research participation, this page will also provide links to research interviews, articles, patient research events happening at Penn.
Visit other patient engagement avenues: PenniConnect-trial listing and search platform CureTalks@Penn - the online radio interview blog
If your department or group has its own social media presence, please tag and cross-post using the hashtag #ClinicalTrialsAtPenn or tag using “@ClinicalTrialsAtPenn”.
Questions? Concerns. Please email psom-ocr@pobox.upenn.edu or call 215-662-4484
Guidelines for Facebook Post Request
- Submitted research study posts will be reviewed and posted on the “Clinical Research at Penn” page on a first come; first served basis.
- Use this RedCap form to make your request.
- Post must have weblink that has more information about study (Example: iConnect page, CT.gov, sponsor website). Page must contain description, basic risk- benefit information, compensation and time on study.
- Links to REDCap questionnaires/ surveys or direct links to abbreviated consents are NOT permitted.
- IRB approval – wording for the post and the content on the weblink must be IRB approved.
- Previously approved IRB recruitment text (i.e. text approved for another recruitment medium that is being requested as a post) would not need re-submission.
- Image (or relevant video) is highly recommended and may be required depending on content (posts with only words don’t get much attention unfortunately).
- If a patient or a participant has a question specific to your study or the post, OCR will contact the submitter or PI directly for a response.
- Failure to respond to OCR within 24-48 hours will result in suspension of future posts to the page.
Guidelines for Facebook Ad/ Advertisement Request
For Research Teams only
- Trial/ Research study must be listed on iConnect as “Recruiting”.
- Submitted research study Ads will be reviewed and posted on the “Clinical Research at Penn” page on a first come; first served basis.
- Request a Facebook post first. Post guidelines above apply.
- A credit card is required to place Facebook Ads. This could be a Department credit card. Please inquire with your Department’s Business Administrator or Business Office.
- Create an iConnect campaign tracker for Ad metrics.
- Determine who in your research team will be the point person to respond to inquiries that come from the Facebook ad. This delegate must have an active/ in-use Facebook personal account. The delegate must be familiar with the basics of how to use Facebook.
- This delegate will be responsible for responding to the public about study details, questions and addressing grievances.
- Set up a 30-minute phone call to review Ad guideline/ Dos, Don’ts with OCR, obtain a mock version of the Ad for IRB approval, and language about communicating with participants via social media. Contact psom-ocrops@pobox.upenn.edu
- Obtain IRB approval for the Ad – if approval has been received for Facebook/ social media before without content for the Ad, you may need to re-submit to the IRB for approval. Studies with an Exempt status from the IRB, may not need to submit a modification, please check with your IRB analyst to confirm.
Additional Information:
- Guidance on Recruitment & Research Using Social Media (link out to Penn IRB's website)
- Social Media Best Practices (requires Penn Login)