title: Comparing internet-based and venue-based methods to sample MSM in the San Francisco Bay Area.
abstract: Methods of collecting behavioral surveillance data, including Web-based methods, have recently been explored in the United States. Questions have arisen as to what extent Internet recruitment methods yield samples of MSM comparable to those obtained using venue-based recruitment methods. We compare three recruitment methods among MSM with respect to demographic and risk behaviors, one sample was obtained using time location sampling at venues in San Francisco, one using a venue based like approach on the Internet and one using direct-marketing advertisements to recruit participants. The physical venue approach was most successful in completing interviews with approached men than both Internet approaches. Respondents recruited via the three methods reported slight differences in risk behavior. Direct marketing internet recruitment can obtain large samples of MSM in a short time.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Department of Public Health, AIDS Office, San Francisco, CA 94102-6033, USA. hfisher.raymond@sfdph.org
authors.forename: H Fisher
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rebchook
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curotto
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaudrey
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amsden
authors.forename: Deb
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult