VidaSana: Recruitment Strategies for Longitudinal Study of Egocentric Latino Networks

Objectives: VidaSana aims to characterize the evolution of egocentric social networks and identify how such networks shape oral health status and access to dental care among recent Latino immigrants. We are recruiting 280 immigrants within 6 months of arrival to the American Midwest. Our original approach encompassed solely Mexican immigrants; we have recently incorporated the rapidly expanding populations of Guatemalan, Salvadorian, and Honduran origin. In addition, we will utilize the base 280 arrivals’ personal networks to recruit another 280 participants within 2+ years of immigration. This interim report describes recruitment strategies.
Methods: We are collaborating with multiple agents serving Central Indiana’s Latino community. Our recruitment strategy focuses on three levels of visibility. The highest level includes radio advertisements, TV interviews, newspaper advertisements, and disseminating targeted Facebook advertisements. The intermediate level visibility includes posting flyers in employment agencies, immigrant welcome centers and Latino businesses; making repeated announcements at church/temple events; tabling at community events; and adapting our recruitment strategies to the requirements of schools and community organizations, tailoring messages to their functions. Lastly, individual level visibility includes direct referrals through word of mouth. Various referral adjuncts are in place.
Results: Six months into recruitment (starting August 2017), VidaSana’s most successful outlets have been schools, churches, and word of mouth recruitment. 143 candidates were screened and 41 recruited into the study. Recruitment has encountered minor challenges, such as potential participants’ hesitancy to trust researchers, and concerns about sharing information. More importantly, juggling daily schedules is limited in manual, unstable jobs when people feel that they must stockpile overtime should they be abruptly deported. We are estimating the performance of strategies.
Conclusions: Recruitment strategies for recently arrived Latino immigrants must be updated to remain relevant to current times and challenges; assumptions must be examined in the present climate of immigration rules and trends.