Including Online-Recruited Seeds: A Respondent-Driven Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men
Date
2016
Authors
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Lal, Allan
Forrest, Jamie I.
Card, Kiffer George
Cui, Zishan
Sereda, Paul
Rich, Ashleigh
Raymond, Henry Fisher
Roth, Eric A.
Moore, David M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Abstract
Background: Technology has changed the way men who have sex with men (MSM) seek sex and socialize, which may impact
the implementation of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) among this population. Initial participants (also known as seeds) are
a critical consideration in RDS because they begin the recruitment chains. However, little information is available on how the
online-recruited seeds may effect RDS implementation.
Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare (1) online-recruited versus offline-recruited seeds and (2) subsequent
recruitment chains of online-recruited versus offline-recruited seeds.
Methods: Between 2012 and 2014, we recruited MSM using RDS in Vancouver, Canada. RDS weights were used with logistic
regression to address each objective.
Results: A total of 119 seeds were used, 85 of whom were online-recruited seeds, to recruit an additional 600 MSM. Compared
with offline-recruited seeds, online-recruited seeds were less likely to be HIV-positive (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.88), to have
attended a gay community group (AOR 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.90), and to feel gay community involvement was “very important”
(AOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03-0.93). Online-recruited seeds were more likely to ask a sexual partner’s HIV status always versus <50%
of the time (AOR 5.21, 95% CI 1.17-23.23), to have watched the Pride parade (AOR 6.30, 95% CI 1.69-23.45), and to have
sought sex online (AOR 4.29, 95% CI 1.53-12-12.05). Further, compared with recruitment chains started by offline-recruited
seeds, recruits from chains started by online-recruited seeds (283/600, 47.2%) were less likely to be HIV-positive (AOR 0.25,
95% CI 0.16-0.40), to report “versatile” versus “bottom” sexual position preference (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.88), and to be in
a relationship lasting >1 year (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.06-2.56). Recruits of online seeds were more likely to be out as gay for longer
(eg, 11-21 vs 1-4 years, AOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.27-3.88) and have fewer Facebook friends (eg, 201-500 vs >500, AOR 1.69, 95%
CI 1.02-2.80). Conclusions: Online-recruited seeds were more prevalent, recruited fewer participants, but were different from those recruited
offline. This may therefore help create a more diverse overall sample. Our work has shown the value of geosocial networking
apps for aiding RDS recruitment efforts, especially when faced with slow participation uptake by other means. Understanding
the degree to which networks interact will be an important next step in confirming the efficacy of online RDS recruitment
strategies.
Description
The authors would like to thank the Momentum Study participants, office staff and community advisory board, as well as our
community partner agencies, Health Initiative for Men, YouthCo HIV and Hep C Society, and Positive Living Society of BC.
Keywords
men who have sex with men, respondent driven sampling, HIV/AIDS, online recruitment, Internet, Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
Citation
Lachowsky, N. J., Lal, A., Forrest, J. I., Card, K. G., Cui, Z., Sereda, P., Rich, A., Raymond, H. F., Roth, E. A., Moore, D. M., & Hogg, R. S. (2016). “Including Online- Recruited Seeds: A Respondent-Driven Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(3), e51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.5258