Short Take: Collecting Data from a Vulnerable Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Harcey, Sela R.; Gauthier, Robin; Markowski, Kelly L.; Smith, Jeffrey A.

doi:10.1177/1525822x221077398

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Findings show that recruitment through peer networks using RDS was possible across all subgroups during COVID-19. Numerous studies have shown the efficacy of RDS ( 28 , 29 ) in recruiting PWID and HIV+ marginalized populations, but the onset of COVID-19 seems to have disrupted social networks that underpin this methodology, slowing recruitment ( 30 ). While those in the HIV+ PWID subgroup managed to recruit from other subgroups of HIV- PWID and HIV+ and not PWID, this occurred at a lower frequency.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Employing Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) to recruit people who inject drugs (PWID) and other hard-to-reach populations during COVID-19: Lessons learned

et al. 2022

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BackgroundRespondent Driven Sampling (RDS) is an effective sampling strategy to recruit hard-to-reach populations but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of this strategy in the collection of data involving human subjects, particularly among marginalized and vulnerable populations, is not known. Based on an ongoing study using RDS to recruit and study the interactions between HIV infection, injection drug use, and the microbiome in Puerto Rico, this paper explores the effectiveness of RDS during the pandemic and provided potential strategies that could improve recruitment and data collection.ResultsRDS was employed to evaluate its effectiveness in recruiting a group of people who inject drugs (PWID) and controls (N = 127) into a study in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were distributed among three subsets: 15 were HIV+ and PWID, 58 were HIV- PWID, and 54 were HIV+ and not PWID.FindingsResults show that recruitment through peer networks using RDS was possible across all sub-groups. Yet, while those in the HIV+ PWID sub-group managed to recruit from other-sub groups of HIV- PWID and HIV+, this occurred at a lower frequency.ConclusionDespite the barriers introduced by COVID-19, it is clear that even in this environment, RDS continues to play a powerful role in recruiting hard-to-reach populations. Yet, more attention should be paid at how future pandemics, natural disasters, and other big events might affect RDS recruitment of vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%