title: Effectiveness of respondent-driven sampling for recruiting drug users in New York City: findings from a pilot study.
abstract: A number of sampling methods are available to recruit drug users and collect HIV risk behavior data. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a modified form of chain-referral sampling with a mathematical system for weighting the sample to compensate for its not having been drawn randomly. It is predicated on the recognition that peers are better able than outreach workers and researchers to locate and recruit other members of a "hidden" population. RDS provides a means of evaluating the reliability of the data obtained and also allows inferences about the characteristics of the population from which the sample is drawn. In this paper we present findings from a pilot study conducted to assess the effectiveness of RDS to recruit a large and diversified group of drug users in New York City. Beginning with eight seeds (i.e., initial recruits) we recruited 618 drug users (injecting and non-injecting) in 13 weeks. The data document both cross-gender and cross-race and -ethnic recruitment as well as recruitment across drug-use status. Sample characteristics are similar to the characteristics of the drug users recruited in other studies conducted in New York City. The findings indicate that RDS is an effective sampling method for recruiting diversified drug users to participate in HIV-related behavioral surveys.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention-Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA. afa3@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Abu S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abdul-Quader
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Heckathorn
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bramson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabin
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology