Evaluation of recruitment methods and promotional strategies for sexual health services and research.

BACKGROUND

Recruitment of diverse participant cohorts has been a long-standing challenge in clinical and health care system research. Diversity is necessary to gain representation of underserved demographics and further our understanding of how to address health inequities and systemic barriers.

OBJECTIVES

Identify facilitators and barriers to access and uptake of pharmacist-led sexually transmitted infection (STI) health care services, evaluate recruitment strategies and identify facilitators and barriers associated with recruitment/promotional strategies, and determine strategies to improve reach of promotion and recruitment strategies to underserved communities to improve equity in pharmacy-based STI services.

METHODS

This was a qualitative evaluation case study using in-depth semi structured interviews with pharmacists engaged in pharmacy practice research and community advocacy representatives. Interviews were inductively coded and underwent thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified which encompass facilitators and barriers to uptake of pharmacy-based sexual health services by underrepresented communities: convenience, misunderstandings, historical harm and past experiences, current forms of systemic oppression, perceptions and fears. Four themes were identified which encompass facilitators and barriers for the effectiveness of recruitment strategies employed by pharmacy practice research: type of recruitment strategy, service type and its perceived benefits/relevance, awareness of service options, difficulties requesting a service. Four themes were identified encompassing strategies for increasing reach of underserved communities in future to improve equity in pharmacy-based STI services: multipronged approaches, accessible promotional material and recruitment strategies, collaboration, dismantling of systemic oppression.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted strategies to improve the reach of pharmacist provided STI services and recruit diverse participants to health research and promote the uptake of pharmacist provided STI services by underserved groups in future.