Open-RDS: An Open-Source Mobile Application for Facilitating Respondent-Driven Sampling Surveys

This paper introduces Open-RDS (o-RDS), an open-source, mobile-first web application with responsive design, created to streamline the process of conducting respondent-driven sampling (RDS) surveys. RDS is a chain-referral technique used to study hidden or hard-to-reach populations. The o-RDS tools aim to simplify survey creation, management, and data collection while maintaining confidentiality and security. The open-source nature of o-RDS fosters community input in design and development and allows for customization by researchers. We highlight the functions of o-RDS, including security features, survey creation, support for referrals, and incentive payment methods. Additionally, we outline future plans for enhancing o-RDS by incorporating support for different survey platforms and expanding the range of incentive payment options. Overall, o-RDS represents a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for researchers conducting RDS surveys, offering flexibility, security, and improved accessibility to hidden populations.Clinical relevance- RDS is used extensively in studies of populations that are relevant to public health research. The o-RDS software simplifies many aspects of survey execution, reducing the cost of surveying, and improving security, referrals and incentive payments. Moving RDS sampling from in-person interviews or computers to more accessible smart phones and tablets will allow researchers to expand the range of hidden populations being reached, leading to improved public health data.