ArticlePLOS digital health2025
Strategies for engaging "hard-to-reach" populations in a panel for digital health research: A qualitative study among experts.
Article in PLOS digital health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Using Partner-Driven Maximum Variance Sampling to Form a Lived Experience Panel: Step-by-Step Tutorial.Journal of participatory medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Digital health technologies are developed to aid individuals in managing their health. Nonetheless, a significant number of these technologies remain neither implemented nor utilized by potential end users. One contributing factor to this gap in uptake is the insufficient consideration of the target audience needs and requirements during the development phase of these technologies. Moreover, certain groups in society are often underrepresented in such research projects (so called "hard-to-reach"), leading to a disconnect between the developed technologies and their needs and requirements. However, recruiting a representative study population - including individuals from different demographic backgrounds - for such studies poses challenges for researchers. One proposed solution is panel research, wherein a fixed group of participants is willing to participate in multiple research projects over time. In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve experts in panel management or with researchers working with individuals in a vulnerable position, to gain insights into their experiences. Through thematic analysis, four key themes emerged: diverse recruitment strategies, investment in sustainable participation, simplified informed consent, and regulating practical matters. Recruiting a representative study population requires diverse and active strategies, such as visiting community centres and leveraging key figures. Long-term engagement can be maintained through regular, accessible communication, flexible participation options, and aligning research goals with participants' interests. Additionally, clear expectations, a supportive environment, respect for privacy, and feedback and incentives are crucial for retaining panel members. Taken into account these factors support inclusiveness in digital health research. Ultimately resulting in better alignment between users' needs and the development, implementation and adoption of digital health technologies.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.