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Balancing Theory and Practice in Respondent-Driven Sampling: A Case Study of Innovations Developed to Overcome Recruitment Challenges
- Source :
- Truong, HHM; Grasso, M; Chen, YH; Kellogg, TA; Robertson, T; Curotto, A; et al.(2013). Balancing Theory and Practice in Respondent-Driven Sampling: A Case Study of Innovations Developed to Overcome Recruitment Challenges. PLoS ONE, 8(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070344. UCSF: Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2853b5st, PloS one, vol 8, iss 8, PLoS ONE, Vol 8, Iss 8, p e70344 (2013), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- eScholarship, University of California, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Author(s): Truong, Hong-Ha M; Grasso, Michael; Chen, Yea-Hung; Kellogg, Timothy A; Robertson, Tyler; Curotto, Alberto; Steward, Wayne T; McFarland, Willi | Abstract: IntroductionRespondent-driven sampling (RDS) offers a recruitment strategy for hard-to-reach populations. However, RDS faces logistical and theoretical challenges that threaten efficiency and validity in settings worldwide. We present innovative adaptations to conventional RDS to overcome barriers encountered in recruiting a large, representative sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) who travel internationally.MethodsNovel methodological adaptations for the "International Travel Research to Inform Prevention" or "I-TRIP" study were offering participants a choice between electronic and paper coupons referrals for recruitment and modifying the secondary incentives structure from small cash amounts to raffle entries for periodic large cash prize raffle drawings. Staged referral limit increases from 3 to 10 referrals and progressive addition of 70 seeds were also implemented.ResultsThere were 501 participants enrolled in up to 13 waves of growth. Among participants with a choice of referral methods, 81% selected electronic referrals. Of participants who were recruited electronically, 90% chose to remain with electronic referrals when it was their turn to recruit. The mean number of enrolled referrals was 0.91 for electronic referrals compared to 0.56 for paper coupons. Median referral lag time, i.e., the time interval between when recruiters were given their referrals and when a referred individual enrolled in the study, was 20 days (IQR 10-40) for electronic referrals, 20 days (IQR 8-58) for paper coupons, 20 days (IQR 10-41) for raffle entries and 33 days (IQR 16-148) for small cash incentives.ConclusionsThe recruitment of MSM who travel internationally required maximizing known flexible tools of RDS while at the same time necessitating innovations to increase recruitment efficiency. Electronic referrals emerged as a major advantage in recruiting this hard-to-reach population who are of high socio-economic status, geographically diffuse and highly mobile. These enhancements may improve the performance of RDS in target populations with similar characteristics.
- Subjects :
- Male
Travel-Associated Diseases
Internationality
Epidemiology
lcsh:Medicine
HIV Infections
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Men who have sex with men
0302 clinical medicine
Medicine
030212 general & internal medicine
lcsh:Science
Epidemiological Methods
media_common
Travel
education.field_of_study
Multidisciplinary
Sampling (statistics)
Homosexuality
Middle Aged
AIDS
Infectious Diseases
Incentive
Research Design
Cash
Respondent
HIV/AIDS
0305 other medical science
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Referral
General Science & Technology
media_common.quotation_subject
Population
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Sampling Studies
Young Adult
03 medical and health sciences
Patient Education as Topic
Clinical Research
Behavioral and Social Science
Humans
Homosexuality, Male
education
Biology
Motivation
Internet
030505 public health
Population Biology
business.industry
Patient Selection
lcsh:R
Social Support
Educational attainment
Social Epidemiology
Family medicine
lcsh:Q
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Truong, HHM; Grasso, M; Chen, YH; Kellogg, TA; Robertson, T; Curotto, A; et al.(2013). Balancing Theory and Practice in Respondent-Driven Sampling: A Case Study of Innovations Developed to Overcome Recruitment Challenges. PLoS ONE, 8(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070344. UCSF: Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2853b5st, PloS one, vol 8, iss 8, PLoS ONE, Vol 8, Iss 8, p e70344 (2013), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....571664e2376fd10959e4561276b5f3ea