The CAN-DO-IT Model: a Process for Developing and Refining Online Recruitment in HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health Research

• Published in: Current HIV/AIDS reports Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 190 - 202
• Main Authors: Macapagal, Kathryn, Li, Dennis H., Clifford, Antonia, Madkins, Krystal, Mustanski, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Biomedical Research - methods; eHealth and HIV (J Simoni and B Guthrie; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Internet; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Patient Selection - ethics; Recruitment; Section Editors; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Health; Social Media; Social organization; Topical Collection on eHealth and HIV; HIV/AIDS; Internet; Research subject recruitment; Sexual health; Social media; Geosocial networking applications
• ISSN: 1548-3568; 1548-3576; 1548-3576
• DOI: 10.1007/s11904-020-00491-5

Purpose of Review HIV/AIDS and sexual health research has increasingly relied on online recruitment in recent years. However, as potential online recruitment avenues (e.g., dating and sexual networking applications, websites, social media) have proliferated, navigating this process has become increasingly complex. This paper presents a practical model to guide researchers through online recruitment irrespective of platform. Recent Findings The CAN-DO-IT model reflects 7 iterative steps based on work by the authors and other investigators: conceptualize scope of recruitment campaign, acquire necessary expertise, navigate online platforms, develop advertisements, optimize recruitment-to-enrollment workflow, implement advertising campaign, and track performance of campaigns and respond accordingly. Summary Online recruitment can accelerate HIV/AIDS research, yet relatively limited guidance exists to facilitate this process across platforms. The CAN-DO-IT model presents one approach to demystify online recruitment and reduce enrollment barriers.