International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 15, Issue 12, 2018

The VidaSana study: Recruitment strategies for longitudinal assessment of egocentric hispanic immigrant networks (Article) (Open Access)

Lopez-Owens M. , Starkey K. , Gil C. , Armenta K. , Maupomé G.*
  • a Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
  • b Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
  • c Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
  • d Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
  • e Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States, Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN 46202, United States

Abstract

We disseminate the recruitment strategies used in the five-year VidaSana study (started in 2017) in the Midwest region of the United States, targeting recently arrived Hispanic immigrants. VidaSana aims to follow immigrants within six months of arrival for 24 months to (1) characterize features of networks (personal and community) that improve or undermine dental health; and (2) further refine methods to quantify the evolution of egocentric networks, using social network methodology. We implemented several strategies to promote and recruit potential participants into the study. We collaborate with agents serving Indiana’s Hispanic communities using three levels of visibility. The broad level includes radio advertisements, TV interviews, newspaper advertisements, and targeted Facebook advertisements. Intermediate level visibility includes posting flyers in schools, employment agencies, immigrant welcome centers, and Hispanic businesses; making announcements at church/temple and school events; tabling at community, church and school events; and a pervasive adaptation of our strategies to the requirements of our partners. Lastly, the individualized level includes direct referrals by partners through word of mouth. From the initial 13 months of recruitment (494 screened contacts and 202 recruited participants), the most successful recruitment strategies appear to be a combination of intermediate-and individual-level strategies; specifically, face-to-face recruitment at school events, direct referrals from our community partners, and tabling at community/school/church events. The current interim findings and future final findings will help guide recruitment and retention strategies for studies focused on immigrants in the current climate of heightened immigration regulations and enforcement. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Oral health Barriers to Care Mexican Americans Hispanic immigration Central americans recruitment Dental care

Index Keywords

immigrant publication longitudinal study Oral Health human Indiana immigration Longitudinal Studies statistics and numerical data social network visibility preventive dentistry Central American climate religion Hispanic Americans dental procedure interview health United States Dental Care Humans migrant Hispanic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Article major clinical study adult human experiment Social Networking patient selection quantitative analysis advertising employment Mexican American
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058755020&doi=10.3390%2fijerph15122878&partnerID=40&md5=77207b41e3ed4022aaf1e6ed6f0fb4e3
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15122878
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English