A recent publication titled “Viability of Web-Based Respondent-Driven Sampling of Belgian Men Who Have Sex With Men: Process Evaluation” and co-authored by, among others, Veerle Buffel and Philippe Bos, has been published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
This study explores the effectiveness of web-based respondent-driven sampling (WEB RDS) in reaching a nationwide sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Belgium — a group often considered hard-to-reach in sexual health research. Using an adapted Medical Research Council process evaluation framework, the authors assessed the implementation, context, and impact mechanisms of WEB RDS. Despite a thoughtful design and moderate dual-incentive system, the method failed to generate sufficient recruitment waves or sample size to allow for robust population estimates.
Key findings reveal barriers such as low motivation among potential participants, community fatigue from over-researching, and digital etiquette norms that discouraged link sharing. These challenges underscore the importance of understanding research saliency and cultural context when designing methodologies for hidden populations.
Read the full article here.
Citation: Thunnissen E, Buffel V, Campbell L, Vuylsteke B, Bos P, Wouters E Viability of Web-Based Respondent-Driven Sampling of Belgian Men Who Have Sex With Men: Process Evaluation J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e60884. doi: 10.2196/60884
