Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Nov 13, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 13, 2023 - Nov 27, 2023
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
National Research Mentoring Network: A/B Testing User Enrollment to Enhance Diversity in BioMedical Workforce
ABSTRACT
Background:
The National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is an NIH funded program to diversify the STEMM research workforce through providing mentoring, networking, and professional development resources. NRMN provides resources to members through its online platform, MyNRMN.
Objective:
MyNRMN helps members build a network of mentors. Our goal is to expand enrollment and mentoring connections, especially among those historically underrepresented in biomedical training and the biomedical workforce.
Methods:
To improve ease of enrollment, we implemented split testing of iterations of our user interface for platform registration. To increase mentoring connections, we developed multiple features that facilitate connecting via different pathways.
Results:
Our improved user interface yielded significantly higher rates of completed registrations. Our analysis showed improvement in completed enrollments using Version 1 compared to the Legacy (OR=1.52, 95%CI 1.30, 1.78). Version 2, with its simplified, one-step pro¬cess, and fewer required fields, outperformed the Legacy (OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.90, 2.50). Our newly developed features delivered an increase in connections between members.
Conclusions:
MyNRMN’s technical efforts expanded its membership base and increased connections between members. Other platforms can learn from these efforts regarding how to increase enrollment among underrepresented groups and foster continuing, successful engagement.
Citation
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Copyright
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