Targeting Future Customers: An Introductory Biobanking Course for Undergraduate Students of Life Sciences
Targeting Future Customers: An Introductory Biobanking Course for Undergraduate Students of Life Sciences
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DOI：
10.1089/bio.2016.0111
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发表时间：
2017-08-01
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
Gabr, Hala
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Abdelhafiz, Ahmed Samir;Fouda, Merhan Ahmed;Gabr, Hala
导言：生物库在阿拉伯地区是一个相对较新的概念。针对不同的利益攸关方介绍生物库的概念，并使他们接受这一概念，对该区域生物库的发展至关重要。生命科学专业的本科生是利益攸关方的一个重要部分，因为他们是未来生物库的潜在客户。有限的资金，缺乏对生物库本身存在的认识，这些学生，以及最佳营销策略的问题提出了挑战，规划最有效的信息传递给这个目标群体。研究方法：为生命科学专业的本科生设计了一门专门课程，在埃及开罗大学医学院开设。该课程在2016年进行了两次，包括生物库，质量，道德，信息技术和转化研究等讲座。Facebook和口碑被用于营销和广告。结果：累计共有125人参加了这两个课程。Facebook似乎是一个有效的营销渠道，尤其是在使用付费广告的情况下。知识的评价，测量使用前测和后测，表现出一定程度的提高参与者的知识。课程结束后填写的评估表显示，大多数参与者对内容和信息传递持积极态度。Facebook也被用作一种评价方法，通过分析课程完成后创建的帖子的参与情况。结论：生物库教育可以在有限的资源下有效地开展。了解目标群体的需要和使用适当的沟通方法是量身定制的课程和有效传递信息的基本先决条件。使用Facebook似乎是一种有效且负担得起的沟通和广告方式。瞄准对研究感兴趣的生命科学本科生是一项很好的投资，可以非常有效地提高研究界对生物库的认识。
Introduction: Biobanking is a relatively new concept in the Arab region. Targeting different stakeholders to introduce the concept of biobanking and develop an acceptance of it among them is important for the growth of biobanking in the region. Undergraduate students of life sciences represent an important segment of stakeholders, since they constitute potential future biobank customers. Limited funding, lack of awareness of the existence of the term biobanking itself among these students, and questions regarding best marketing strategies presented challenges to planning for the most effective message delivery to this target group. Methods: A specific course was designed for undergraduate students of life sciences, which was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. The course was conducted twice in 2016 and included lectures covering biobanking, quality, ethics, information technology, and translational research. Facebook and word-of-mouth were used for marketing and advertising. Results: A total number of 125 participants attended both courses cumulatively. Facebook appeared to have been an effective marketing outlet, especially when paid advertisements were used. Evaluation of knowledge, measured using a pretest and posttest, demonstrated some improvement in knowledge of participants. Evaluation forms filled after the course showed positive attitude toward content and message delivery by a majority of participants. Facebook was also used as an evaluation method through analysis of engagement with posts created after course completion. Conclusions: Biobanking education can be carried out effectively with limited resources. Understanding the needs of the target group and using appropriate methods of communication are essential prerequisites to a well-tailored curriculum and effective message delivery. Using Facebook appears to be an effective and affordable method of communication and advertising. Targeting undergraduate students of life sciences interested in research is a good investment and can be very effective in increasing awareness about biobanking inside the research community.