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. 2015 Jan 5;17(1):e4. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3692

Table 6.

Comparison of studies included in systematic review, by age of target population (n=87).

Study type and content Exclusively 11-18 years Including 19-25 years Unspecified adolescent age
n (%)
Observational, n 26 44 5
Interventional, n 3 9 0
Content of studies

Sex/sexually transmitted infection 5 (16%) 17 (31%) 1 (20%)

Alcohol, drugs, tobacco 7 (23%) 12 (23%) 0 (0%)

Cyberbullying/ sexual predators 7 (23%) 1 (2%) 0 (0%)

Mental health 3 (10%) 15 (29%) 0 (0%)

Medical disease 6 (19%) 2 (4%) 3 (60%)

Other 3 (10%) 8 (13%) 1 (20%)
Use of social media

Observe behaviors


View social media sites/ content analysis (n=25) 7 (24%) 15 (28%) 3 (60%)


Assess social media use by interview or survey (n=46) 19 (66%) 26 (49%) 1 (20%)


Elicit reaction to public posting on social media (n=6) 2 (3%) 4 (14%) 0 (0%)


Provide health information (n=13) 2 (3%) 9 (17%) 2 (40%)

Engage community


Improve communication with HCP (n=7) 2 (7%) 5 (9%) 0 (0%)


Create online community (n=10) 3 (10%) 6 (11%) 1 (20%)


Research study recruitment: (n=22) 2 (3%) 21 (40%) 0 (0%)