Recruiting Ethnically Diverse Participants into Qualitative Health Research: Lessons Learned

The inclusion of ethnically diverse populations in health research is crucial for addressing ethnic disparities in health status and care. Despite this need, nondominant ethnic groups continue to be under-represented in health studies. The reasons may be at least partly due to the difficulties inherent in recruiting such groups for research. In this article, we attempt to assist researchers, who are seeking to conduct inclusive qualitative health research, by sharing some of the lessons we learned in the process of recruiting ethnically diverse immigrant women for a qualitative study on the experience of developing weight-related concerns. Specifically, we discuss issues such as engaging gatekeepers, using cultural insiders, developing culturally-sensitive recruitment materials, offering payment, and developing trust with participants and their communities. We conclude the article by presenting practical strategies for addressing these issues based on our experience and the available literature on the recruitment of non-dominant research participants.