Recruiting Hard-to-Reach Populations Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Community Engagement

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional research, especially community-based sample generation.
• Recruiting hard-to-reach populations presents unique challenges, amplified by pandemic-related restrictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the adaptation of in-person recruitment strategies to virtual methods.
• To identify effective approaches for disseminating study information and connecting with hard-to-reach participants virtually.
• To provide insights for future research recruitment under constrained conditions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two qualitative research studies in late 2021.
• Adapted traditional in-person recruitment techniques to virtual platforms.
• Focused on identifying and engaging hard-to-reach community populations.

Main Results:

• Successfully transitioned from in-person to virtual dissemination of study information.
• Established virtual connections with previously hard-to-reach populations.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of virtual recruitment strategies.

Conclusions:

• Virtual adaptation of recruitment methods is effective for engaging hard-to-reach populations.
• These adapted strategies offer valuable alternatives when in-person research is limited.
• The approach has implications for enhancing the resilience and adaptability of future research endeavors.