Is SMS text or email more effective for recruitment into sexual health research?

Dear Editor, High rates of participation in epidemiological research (~90%) were observed in the 1950s, but the rates subsequently declined to 20%–30%.1 Researchers have attempted different approaches to increase participation, including web-based surveys, personalised emails and incentives.2 Our ‘Geographical location of meeting Partners Survey (GPS)’ Study used an anonymous online survey to understand how individuals met their sexual partners in Victoria, Australia. Individuals aged ≥16 years, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, were eligible. Upon completion, individuals could participate in a lucky draw to win an AU$50 gift card. Two approaches—short message service (SMS) texts and emails—were used to recruit clients attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre into the GPS Study. Upon registering at the clinic, all clients were asked to provide two separate consents via computer-assisted self-interviewing on whether they were happy to receive SMS texts from the clinic and whether they would...

Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - July 25, 2022 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Chow, E. P. F., Fairley, C. K., Lee, D. M., Ong, J. J., Rahman, R., Afrizal, A., Phillips, T. R. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research